Sissoko or Mascherano?

Now that Javier Mascherano has signed, giving competition to Sissoko for a first team place, who should play alongside Alonso/Gerrard?

Sissoko has been at Anfield since 2005, and has become an integral part of the team, putting in solid performances in the FA Cup final and against Barcelona this season, but still has critics as his touch lets him down, and his passing is not the best, but no one can doubt his work rate and tackling ability, and the way he breaks up opposition's play. He has played 21 games this season, but is yet to have scored, despite hitting the bar against Barcelona, he has not had many chances.

Mascherano was signed on loan from West Ham in January, and there were question marks over his signing after he was not really given the chance to shine, but their loss has been our gain, the little Argentinian has shown what he is capable of already.

Against Arsenal the only person he didn't throw off the ball was "the beast" Julio Baptista, but other than that he was flying into tackles, winning the ball, his passing was spot on, and when he went off he got a standing ovation from the Anfield crowd.

In his first game against Sheff United he seemed to sit back, not get involved at first, then the opportunity for a quality tackle came, and since he has not looked out of place; last week against PSV he put in another great performance, second only to Steve Finnan as Man of the Match.

The problem now is: Who plays? Alonso is seen as a key part of the future, hence the need from Benitez to tie him to the club with a new contract, it is also well known that Gerrard prefers playing in the centre/performs better there, and with Pennant finding form on the right there is a selection problem that needs solving. If Gerrard stays on the right, who goes alongside Alonso?

Mascherano has only played 6 games for the reds, but Benitez is already very impressed with him, recently saying : "We knew when we decided to bring Mascherano here that we needed another holding midfielder in case Xabi Alonso couldn't play.  

"I said when we signed him that he is a winner. He's a player with a very good mentality. He has 20 caps with Argentina and he's 22 years old.

"Of all the youngsters to have come through in recent seasons, the one who's impressed me most is Mascherano. He's a monster of a player and is destined for great things. He can keep possession and he's always in the right position. He wanted to show people he was good enough to play in England".

If Mascherano is already getting the plaudits, where does that leave Sissoko?