Throughout his time at Anfield Javier Mascherano has repeatedly shown he is the small man for the big occasion.
A diminutive midfielder with a tough-tackling attitude, he has more often than not emerged triumphant when confronted by some of Europe's more imposing figures.
Indeed, whether it is dominating the likes of Patrick Vieira and Gilberto in the Champions League or out-battling Lee Carsley, Robbie Savage and everyone associated with the who's who of Premier League hardmen - he invariably comes away from a challenge with the ball at his feet.
It is a happy knack that has not been lost on the Reds' faithful who have aptly nicknamed him, the 'Monster Masch' and the 23-year-old admits his relationship with the fans is something he takes great pride in.
"I meet supporters and they tell me this. It makes me happy because it tells me I made the right decision coming to England and coming to Liverpool," he told LFC Magazine.
"It shows I am doing the things I need to and doing them right.
"I am not as tall as Steven (Gerrard) or even as tall as any of the players that I play against. So I need to be brave and prove for every minute of every game that I have a big heart.
"I would say that in my position, because of my size, I have to try twice as hard as the opposition players I am playing against.
"I am the smallest player in the Liverpool team. I am maybe one of the smallest central midfielders in the country and people will, I am sure, look at me before we play them and think that they will be able to dominate me physically.
"I think that in the course of my time at Liverpool I have proved that they can't. I won't let them."
In a season that finally saw his long-term future at the club resolved, Mascherano has been one of Rafael Benitez's star performers.
He admits he has been pleased to commit himself to a long-term Anfield stay but while he has been happy with his own level of consistency, he has been frustrated to end the season empty-handed - a statistic he is determined to change in the years ahead.
"It is a matter of great pride for me to represent the famous name of Liverpool," he said.
"I want to play my part in making the club even more successful. I want to ensure this is the last season without a trophy for us for a long time.
"We had a season that had many highlights, but also left us with a feeling that maybe we could have achieved more.
"I would say of course that I could be better. I am not finished as a player and I look at the other boys in this team and try to learn little things from them.
"But I have definitely had a more consistent season this year than I had in the six months after I first arrived."
Having gone so close to a third Champions League final in four seasons and seen a Premier League title bid fall by the wayside, Mascherano insists it will be a different story next season.
"Next season will be very, very different," he said.
"Next season teams will have to believe in our challenge.
"We have the supporters of a champion team, we have a team of potential champions and who all believe in the same things.
"How can we not achieve our dreams when that is true?
"We will be back in August more hungry for silverware than ever."
A diminutive midfielder with a tough-tackling attitude, he has more often than not emerged triumphant when confronted by some of Europe's more imposing figures.
Indeed, whether it is dominating the likes of Patrick Vieira and Gilberto in the Champions League or out-battling Lee Carsley, Robbie Savage and everyone associated with the who's who of Premier League hardmen - he invariably comes away from a challenge with the ball at his feet.
It is a happy knack that has not been lost on the Reds' faithful who have aptly nicknamed him, the 'Monster Masch' and the 23-year-old admits his relationship with the fans is something he takes great pride in.
"I meet supporters and they tell me this. It makes me happy because it tells me I made the right decision coming to England and coming to Liverpool," he told LFC Magazine.
"It shows I am doing the things I need to and doing them right.
"I am not as tall as Steven (Gerrard) or even as tall as any of the players that I play against. So I need to be brave and prove for every minute of every game that I have a big heart.
"I would say that in my position, because of my size, I have to try twice as hard as the opposition players I am playing against.
"I am the smallest player in the Liverpool team. I am maybe one of the smallest central midfielders in the country and people will, I am sure, look at me before we play them and think that they will be able to dominate me physically.
"I think that in the course of my time at Liverpool I have proved that they can't. I won't let them."
In a season that finally saw his long-term future at the club resolved, Mascherano has been one of Rafael Benitez's star performers.
He admits he has been pleased to commit himself to a long-term Anfield stay but while he has been happy with his own level of consistency, he has been frustrated to end the season empty-handed - a statistic he is determined to change in the years ahead.
"It is a matter of great pride for me to represent the famous name of Liverpool," he said.
"I want to play my part in making the club even more successful. I want to ensure this is the last season without a trophy for us for a long time.
"We had a season that had many highlights, but also left us with a feeling that maybe we could have achieved more.
"I would say of course that I could be better. I am not finished as a player and I look at the other boys in this team and try to learn little things from them.
"But I have definitely had a more consistent season this year than I had in the six months after I first arrived."
Having gone so close to a third Champions League final in four seasons and seen a Premier League title bid fall by the wayside, Mascherano insists it will be a different story next season.
"Next season will be very, very different," he said.
"Next season teams will have to believe in our challenge.
"We have the supporters of a champion team, we have a team of potential champions and who all believe in the same things.
"How can we not achieve our dreams when that is true?
"We will be back in August more hungry for silverware than ever."
He's gonna be a legend if he carries on like he has 
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