Despite conceding that Liverpool fashions the stronger squad, Neville, a staunch Red Devil, predicted that his former club would outstrip them in the Premier League standings by two places a clear case of bias masquerading as punditry.
Recall the 2008/09 season when Benitez produced his famous 'facts' speech at a press conference and faced claims that he'd lost his composure? He begs to differ.
Speaking to Stick to Football, Benitez recounted how fixture schedules favored United: "We played four games after international games and Champions League games, we play four games at home, and eight games away," he said.
" Manchester United were playing eight games at home, even on Sunday and four games away. Why? Ferguson was complaining about, 'We played the second part of the league against the top sides at home.' Yeah, everybody wants to play at home for the second part of the league! So, he was complaining. And then I say, 'Oh you can't decide the fixtures, you cannot decide what you want'."
"But we were playing four games away, 12.45pm kick-off," he said, in a statement that may have resonated with Jurgen Klopp. "And I have to defend my club, and the only way for us, I could see that you were progressing, and the way the games were going on with things like extra-time. A lot of things, and another one, the handball of Rio Ferdinand and it was given as a corner anyway I could see it happening."
He continued: "Then I said, the only chance that we have is if you lose against Chelsea at home. Then I was analyzing the fixtures, this is the game. So, I wanted to be sure there was a level playing field game, and everybody will be focused on that, and anything strange can happen. The problem is that you won 2-0, because they fired [Luiz Felipe] Scolari later and you were better or whatever."
The ex-Liverpool manager added: "We went to Old Trafford, and it was a boy with a father, he has a big banner, 'Rafa is cracking up', and we beat Manchester United, 1-4, you were cracking up, because Sir Alex Ferguson was so worried about us, that he was using everything he has in his book to create [that environment]. When we were ahead you had two games in hand, because you played in the Club World Cup. Then you came back, and you won the games and obviously you were doing well."
"Cracking up, I was joking, because the last 11 games we drew one against Arsenal 4-4 at home, and we won ten. So, we were not cracking up you had extra time, and then you play seven minutes extra and you score against Aston Villa with [Federico] Macheda."
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