Javier Mascherano, the Liverpool midfielder, has been fined by his club after admitting a charge of improper conduct following his dismissal against Manchester United.

The FA earlier confirmed the Argentina international pleaded guilty to the charge which came after they studied his reaction to his dismissal in Sunday's 3-0 Barclays Premier League defeat at Old Trafford.

Mascherano has asked for a personal hearing, which will take place in front of the FA regulatory commission next Thursday.

And although Rafael Benitez has fined the Argentina midfielder a week's wages, he believes the incident is a one-off.

Benitez said: "Javier is a fantastic professional and he knows he made a big mistake, he apologised to his team-mates and the supporters and he has now apologised to the referee.

"He accepts he lost control after the sending-off and has said sorry to the referee. I have also talked with him now and told him he would be fined by the club, and he has accepted that and wants the money donated to charity.

"We would like a personal hearing now. This was the first red card of our season and we do not have problems of this kind. We will now await the outcome of the hearing and the lawyers are now working on it."

Mascherano had to be dragged from the pitch by coaching staff and colleagues after being shown a red card in the 45th minute by Steve Bennett. The referee had given the former West Ham player a second yellow following his protests against a caution issued to Fernando Torres, the Liverpool striker.

The 23-year-old is currently serving a one-match suspension for the dismissal, ruling him out of Sunday's crucial Merseyside derby against Everton at Anfield. However, he could now also miss Premier League games against Arsenal on April 5 and Blackburn Rovers eight days later. Any ban would exclude the Champions League quarter-final first and second legs against Arsenal on April 2 and 9.

The FA confirmed the player has pleaded guilty to the charge, a statement read: “Liverpool's Javier Mascherano has admitted a charge of improper conduct and requested a personal hearing. The charge relates to his reaction towards referee Steve Bennett after being sent off against Manchester United on Sunday, March 23.

"The case will be heard by a regulatory commission on Thursday, April 3.”