Javier Mascherano has hit out at critics who state he has not been at his best for Liverpool because his mind is still on a move to Barcelona.

The Argentine midfielder was linked with a switch to Camp Nou in the summer and only the sale of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid ensured that he stayed at Anfield.

With fresh speculation that the Catalan giants will make a concrete move for him in the winter window or at the end of the campaign, pundits have said that he is focussed on that.

Mascherano has now hit back, stating that he has put the Blaugrana behind him and that he is simply in a poor patch.

"Everyone knows Barcelona were interested in me but that's in the past now," he was quoted as saying by The Daily Mail.

"Liverpool said 'no' and that's the end of it. Some might say I haven't been playing well because Barcelona tried to buy me.

"I agree I haven't been at my best, but it's not because of that. I just haven't started the season well."