Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano has spoken of his gratitude to Liverpool for fighting the Fifa ruling that would have made a move from West Ham to Merseyside impossible and perpetuated his "bad" experience at Upton Park.

Mascherano has already played for two clubs competitively this season - the Hammers and Brazilian club Corinthians - but yesterday was given special dispensation by world governing body Fifa to complete the transfer despite it being outside of the rules.

Liverpool submitted the player's registration documents to the Premier League ahead of the midnight transfer deadline but they cannot, as yet, call the player their own.

The club has done a lot for making this easier, they did a great presentation and that's why now I am allowed to play for Liverpool," he told Liverpool's official website, www.liverpoolfc.tv.
 
"I went through a very bad moment but now Liverpool has appeared and I want to do my work as best as possible for showing that I still have the same ambitions as when I arrived in England.
 
"Rafa Benítez gave me a lot of confidence since the fist moment that I spoke with him.

"Personally I even got very surprised with the chance of being transferred to Liverpool considering that I haven't been playing since December 3rd at West Ham.
 
"Now a new page starts in my career and I want to again be the player that I was some time ago and fight for a place at Liverpool.
 
"I want to give my best to this team that has done such a big effort to have me in the squad.
 
"In addition to that I want to work very hard for Liverpool and for myself win a place again in the Argentinian national team."

The Premier League has confirmed that Mascherano's registration documents were received from Liverpool prior to the window closing but has also said that it "has decided to take time to satisfy itself with the proposed arrangements before the registration can be effected  and the player permitted to play for Liverpool FC."

There were no such hitches for the Reds in the signings of defender Alvaro Arbeloa from Deportivo La Coruna, for a fee believed to be £2.65million, and Malaga 18-year-old Francisco Manuel Duran.

Former Real Madrid player Arbeloa admitted the move to Anfield had taken him by surprise.

He told the club's website: "Until Tuesday I wasn't sure whether I was going to leave or not.

"For me this is a beautiful challenge and I hope everything goes well. It's a huge leap for me."