Sam Allardyce claims Rafa Benitez's criticism of
him is a cover-up for how bad Liverpool are and claims the Reds
have all but blown their chance of finishing in the top
four.
Benitez last week mocked Allardyce's behaviour and Blackburn's
style after their match at Anfield, suggesting that European
champions Barcelona were going to model themselves on Rovers.
But the Blackburn manager has hit back by claiming he has
managed to get under the skin of Benitez and that the Liverpool
boss was just covering up for how badly his team played despite the
Reds' 2-1 win.
Allardyce said: "It was a good cover-up by Rafa because he knows
how bad his side were and that was repeated against Wigan on Monday
night.
"He's got personal with it for many, many years now. That's why
I don't like him and the feeling is probably mutual. "I don't get
personal with him; I get into him and under his skin, yes, but
that's all part of the game.
"The tit for tat between me and Rafa will probably go on until
one of us is no longer a Premier League manager. "I've managed to
psyche out one or two here and there and that's how the Premiership
has evolved over the last 20 years. "But no, Pep Guardiola has not
been in touch yet!"
Allardyce said his team should take encouragement from their
performance where they created a host of chances but only managed
to score from the spot. He also believes Liverpool's result at
Wigan leaves Benitez's side unlikely to finish fourth and qualify
for the Champions League.
He added: "The last time one of the big four didn't finish in
the top four it was Liverpool - Everton got that spot - and I think
this time it looks pretty difficult having lost against Wigan.
"They are having to rely on other teams slipping up now. "They
have a wealth of experience and that may be a telling factor when
the nerve ends start jangling. We saw what happened to Tottenham a
few years ago with the famous 'poisoned lasagne' scenario - which
was obviously never the case - and they let it slip.
"But I think it might be more difficult for Liverpool this time
around because there are more teams involved. There's Manchester
City, Aston Villa and Tottenham in there and if Everton keep
rolling on you might be surprised to see them making a late
run."
Benitez had pointed the finger at Blackburn's uncompromising
style saying: "I think it is a model for all the managers around
the world, their style of football, his [Allardyce's] behaviour.
The style of football I think Barcelona are thinking of
copying."
Allardyce insists however that this shows he has won the
psychological battle. He said: "You do it to try to get your team
in a position to get a result. Personal criticism is not the road I
go down, and I don't personally criticise Rafa Benitez but I
clearly get under his skin and that can be a benefit to my side
when we play them."