Rafael Benitez reignites Sir Alex Ferguson rivalry after Liverpool vs Man Utd feud

The fierce rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United never dies down. It doesn’t matter if the clubs are in direct competition for big trophies or not, the animosity is permanent.

We saw that earlier this week with the nonsensical ramblings of Gary Neville . Despite admitting that the Reds have the better team , he backed his old side to finish two places higher in the Premier League table. It’s pettiness masquerading as analysis.

The wounds from old battles cut deep too. Former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has recently been reflecting on his rivalry with United and Sir Alex Ferguson . The Spaniard famously delivered a list of facts at a press conference in 2008/09 and was accused of ‘cracking up.’ Naturally, he does not see things that way.

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“We played four games after international games and Champions League games, we play four games at home, and eight games away,” Benitez told Stick to Football. “Manchester United were playing eight games at home, even on Sunday – and four games away. Why? Ferguson was complaining about, ‘oh 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 continued, no doubt drawing sympathy from 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.”

“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.”

“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.”

Rafa Benítez was speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet .

Liverpool.com says: Benitez is like all football fans, he has a long memory for incidents like these. It's such a shame he wasn't Liverpool manager in the post-Ferguson era when United hit the skids.