Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has slammed the approach of Manchester City's owners.

Mascherano reckons that while City are streets ahead of the Kop kings when it comes to spending power, they will never have the passion and pride there is at Anfield.

The Argentina skipper, 25, insisted: "City have bought some very good players and they have a very good team, but I will say one thing - you can buy players, but you cannot buy history.

"I certainly don't want to play for City. You can buy stars, you can spend a lot of money to be in the top four, more than us I know, but you can't buy what we have at Anfield.

"Here we play with the history of the club behind us. We don't have their money but we are proud to play for Liverpool. I know that they have the money and they are building a good side but I am still so proud to play for Liverpool."