Benitez in fresh salvo at “nervous” Ferguson

Rafael Benitez has re-stoked his feud with Sir Alex Ferguson by suggesting the Manchester United manager has been made “nervous” by Liverpool’s late charge for the Premier League title.

Benitez has been involved in a series of verbal spats with Ferguson this season and the Spaniard could not resist another dig after two goals by Fernando Torres inspired Liverpool to an emphatic 4-0 victory over struggling Blackburn Rovers at Anfield on Saturday.

Although United returned to the top of the table by winning at Sunderland later in the day, Liverpool signalled that they will push them to the wire with a performance that was the perfect response to last week’s 3-1 home defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League.

Benitez insisted his side’s result had left United and Ferguson under pressure.

“Clearly you can see that they are under pressure,” said the Liverpool manager. “Ferguson is always talking so that means that they are under pressure.”

Benitez appeared to be referring to Ferguson’s comments prior to the weekend’s fixtures, in which he had questioned why Benitez had chosen to talk about him ahead of his side’s meeting with Chelsea.

“He’s got a European tie (against Chelsea) and he’s talking about Alex Ferguson,” the Scot had said. “Fantastic! I didn’t know I was that important!”

Benitez duly responded in kind. “Do I take it as a compliment that he’s talking about me?” he asked. “I don’t care but I know he is nervous so it’s good.”

Liverpool’s fifth successive Premier League win, which also featured goals by Denmark defender Daniel Agger and young striker David Ngog, left them in good spirits ahead of their trip next Tuesday to Stamford Bridge, where they must score three times against Chelsea if they are to reach the Champions League semi-final.

Steven Gerrard spent the Blackburn game on the substitutes bench after his recent groin injury although Benitez revealed he could be fit to start against Chelsea.

“He will have more of a chance now of playing against Chelsea,” added Benitez who was delighted with the way his side bounced back after a chastening defeat at the hands of the Londoners.

“To play a good game, score some goals and not concede was the perfect response from my players.

“I’m really pleased because it was a really good game from our point of view. It could have been more because we had some clear chances.

“I thought Torres was really important because his first goal opened the game and it made it easier for us to create more chances.

“We had confidence in ourselves so we knew that if we didn’t play well, it would still be difficult for them.

“You could see that we were in control so it was just a case of us not making mistakes.”

Blackburn remain in trouble near the foot of the table with six games remaining.

Manager Sam Allardyce admitted that Liverpool were worthy winners and he believes the Merseyside club have an excellent chance of winning their first domestic title since 1990.

“They are very, very close and they are capable of winning the league,” he said. “There will be twists and turns in the title race depending on injuries and the decisions that happen between now and the end of the season.

“I have no complaints about the outcome. We didn’t compete well enough. We didn’t do enough and I’m very disappointed with our performance.

“There was no complacency on our part, it was more fear than anything else.”