LIVERPOOL’S rain-soaked supporters who made the trip to Eastlands were let down big time last night.

Not by those weary players in red who trudged off at the final whistle having been comprehensively out-thought, out-battled and out-played by an impressive Manchester City side.

But by one man still on the Anfield payroll who decided to duck out of a vital clash with the club likely to provide the greatest threat to the Reds’ hopes of reclaiming their top four status.

Javier Mascherano has made no secret of the fact he wants out and Liverpool’s position has been crystal clear from the moment he met Roy Hodgson for the first time with his agent in tow at Melwood last month and demanded a move.

The Reds don’t want to sell but will reluctantly grant Mascherano his wish if the price is right.

In the absence of any bids, Hodgson has been pressing on with Mascherano as part of his plans.

For his part the Argentina captain’s professionalism had been admirable with his heroic performance against Arsenal on the opening weekend a reminder of how much he would be missed if a deal is done.

But all that changed yesterday. After a derisory offer in the region of £12million from Barcelona, which Liverpool swiftly rejected out of hand, Mascherano made himself unavailable for selection.

Hodgson diplomatically said he was left out because “he wasn’t in the right frame of mind”.

But after having his head turned by the Catalan giants, Mascherano effectively downed tools.

With the transfer deadline looming, the 26-year-old is clearly trying to force the Reds’ hand.

But in doing so he let down all those supporters who he has always claimed he’s so proud to play for.

Mascherano owed it to those who finance his hefty salary with their hard-earned cash to keep fighting for the cause until Liverpool informed him a deal was agreed.

A bit of payback from a player who was stuck in West Ham Reserves and his career going nowhere fast before the Reds snapped him up.

His insistence that his only desire to move on was because of his family’s failure to settle on Merseyside earned some sympathy on the Kop.

That went out of the window yesterday when he turned his back on his team-mates and the fans.

To rub salt into Liverpool’s wounds, Mascherano was sorely missed on a dismal evening.

When Hodgson admitted afterwards that Roberto Mancini’s side “took control of the game”, it was an admission that the Reds lost the battle in the middle of the park.

Lucas Leiva has made great progress over the past 12 months but he was left chasing shadows last night against City’s central midfield trio of Yaya Toure, Nigel de Jong and Gareth Barry.

Liverpool needed a physical presence to stamp their authority on proceedings but they didn’t have one.

In truth there was a gulf in class between the two sides.

Hardly surprising considering Liverpool’s side cost less to assemble than the £90million of talent sat warming Manchester City’s bench, including £70million worth of strikers in Emmanuel Adebayor, David Silva and Jo.

Money might not be able to buy success but it certainly helps and Sheikh Mansour was on hand to witness what a £1billion investment gets you these days.

Liverpool’s worst league defeat at the hands of City for 73 years hurt, but Mascherano’s decision to turn his back on the club cut deeper.