Benitez lets fly at Fergie as title battle boils over

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez sent the temperature of the Premier League title race surging past boiling point on Friday with a scathing attack on Alex Ferguson that was as extraordinary as it was unexpected.

Benitez has, until now, enjoyed a fairly cordial relationship with his Manchester United counterpart.

But a raw nerve appears to have been touched this week following Ferguson’s twin suggestions that this season’s fixtures list had seriously handicapped his side’s title defence and that Liverpool’s relative lack of experience could tell over the second half of the season.

Accusing his Scottish rival of a misguided attempt to play mind games, Benitez claimed Ferguson had been riled by the strength of Liverpool’s bid for a first league title in 19 years.

“I was surprised by what has been said, but maybe they (Manchester United) are nervous because we are at the top of the table,” Benitez told reporters.

“But I want to talk about facts. I want to be clear, I do not want to play mind games too early, although they seem to want to start.”

Although Benitez was supposed to be previewing Saturday’s match at Stoke — where victory would send his side six points clear at the top before United’s meeting with Liverpool on Sunday — it was clear he had turned up with a pre-determined agenda.

Making reference to a prepared sheet in front of him, the Spaniard coolly presented a list of grievances over what he sees as the special treatment Ferguson and United receive from match officials and the English football authorities.

“All managers need to know is that only Mr Ferguson can talk about the fixtures, can talk about referees and nothing happens,” Benitez said.

“We need to know that I am talking about facts, not my impression. There are things that everyone can see every single week.

“Are they under pressure? Maybe they were not thinking that we would be at the top of the table in January. But we are at the top of the table and they are nervous.”

Benitez made it clear that he feels Ferguson’s complaints about match officials and the Football Association would not be tolerated from anyone else.

“To hear someone talking when he has problems with referees every single week, and now complaining about the fixtures and complaining about everything, I think that is not fair.

“You can see every week how they put (officials) under pressure … we have seen players sent off at Old Trafford and we do not see our opponents sent off. It is part of the game. But to complain and to always have an advantage is not fair.

“During the respect campaign, and this is a fact, Mr Ferguson was charged by the FA for improper conduct … He was not punished. He is the only manager in the league that cannot be punished for these things. How can you talk about the respect campaign and criticise the referee every single week.”

Ferguson’s main complaint about the fixtures has been that United, in the first half of the campaign, have repeatedly had to play away games following midweek Champions League or international games.

His complaints have been backed up by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger but Benitez accused Ferguson of ignoring scheduling decisions that helped his side.

“Two years ago we were playing a lot of early kick-offs away on Saturdays when United were playing on Sundays – and we didn’t say anything,” he said.

“Now he is complaining about everything, that everybody is against United. But the second half of the season will see them playing at home against all the teams at the top of the table, it is a fantastic advantage.

“At Christmas, United played on December 29 and the rest of the teams played on the 28th. We were away against Newcastle two days after playing Bolton. They were playing about 40 hours later, they were not complaining then.”

Perhaps the most serious accusation made by Benitez was that United officials systematically attempt to intimidate officials when his side visit Old Trafford.

“They are always going man-to-man with the referees, especially at half-time when they walk close to the referees and they are talking and talking,” he said.