London - Liverpool confirmed Friday that they will appeal against an additional two-match Premier League ban given to Javier Mascherano following his protests at the red card he was shown against Manchester United last month.

The midfielder has already served his mandatory one-game ban for collecting two yellow cards in the same game, but the additional penalty was imposed on Thursday for his reaction to the sending-off.

"We have put in the appeal and requested that the penalty not be set aside pending the outcome," a Liverpool spokesman said.

"Consequently, Javier is suspended for tomorrow's game at Arsenal."

Liverpool's appeal rests on what they see as "inconsistency of sentencing based on past precedents".

The issue of players showing dissent has been focused on following a series of recent events, and Liverpool evidently believe Mascherano is being made a scapegoat.

Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor received only an additional one-match ban after a prolonged refusal to leave the field after being sent off in last season's Carling Cup final, and Watford's John Eustace also got only a one-game ban after a similar offence this season.

Liverpool have accepted Mascherano will miss Saturday's game against Arsenal, suggesting they hope merely to have the suspension reduced to one additional game. (dpa)