Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has gone to war with
yet another Premier League manager, after accusing Everton of
negative tactics during their FA Cup Fourth Round draw on
Sunday.
Benitez was unhappy with the Toffees' approach during the 1-1
draw at Anfield - the second in a week following a similar
stalemate in the Premier League.
"One team was trying to win and the other team was trying not to
lose," Benitez said. "They were coming for a draw, we were trying
to win. It is hard against a team with 10 players always behind the
ball. I have never played like that here."
Everton boss David Moyes, on the other hand, was pleased with
his team's performance, rejecting Rafa's accusations that the Blues
- who took the lead through Joleon Lescott - had played for a
replay.
"I have never gone anywhere looking for a draw," he said. "I may
have taken one in the end. We had a lot of players out and
Liverpool had all their players available. We did not have the
physical capabilities within what we had to do anything
different."
Before kick-off, Moyes had attempted to stir up an already
fragile Benitez by hinting that at least he had control at his
club, unlike the Liverpool gaffer.
"The chairman and me make decisions," he said. "The chairman
would never do anything without my agreement. It’s important for
managers to have control. It is something you earn by how you work
within the club and how you deal with people.
"We do things with a bit of dignity here at Everton. Liverpool
is a great football club but Everton do things with dignity and
style."
Tension between the two bosses stretches back a year, after
Benitez branded Everton a ‘small club’ prior to a 0-0 draw at
Anfield.
And after Rafa’s recent rant against Sir Alex Ferguson, it
appears the Reds boss isn't overly concerned with making friends
among his his fellow managers as Liverpool aim to secure the
Premier League title for the first time.
