The Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has launched an astonishing attack on his Manchester United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson. The Spaniard claimed the United boss Ferguson is "the only manager who will not be punished" for outspoken attacks on referees. Benitez said: "We had a meeting in Manchester with managers and the Football Association about the respect campaign. "And I was very clear, forget the campaign because Mr Ferguson was killing the referees, killing Mr (Martin) Atkinson, killing Mr (Keith) Hackett. Benitez is clearly irked by the lenient way he sees Ferguson treated by the FA, and hit back at the Old Trafford chief's complaints about how the fixtures are compiled. But the Spaniard's long list of complaints about the world and European champions was not an angry rant. It was a measured, controlled delivery at the media conference ahead of the Premier League trip to Stoke. Liverpool are top ? and if they win they will be six points clear of second-placed Chelsea and 10 ahead of the champions before the pair meet at Old Trafford on Sunday. Benitez sat with a sheet of paper, unfolded in front of him, from which he read a catalogue of grievances against the Manchester United regime. Ferguson's complaints about supposed favouritism over fixtures prompted Benitez to say: "I was surprised by what has been said, but maybe they are nervous because we are at the top of the table. "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."
Benitez believes Ferguson is getting away with attacks on referees which would not be tolerated from other managers. He said: "All managers need to know is that only Mr Ferguson can talk about the fixtures, can talk about referees and nothing happens. "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. "I am not telling the authorities what to do. But I have been here for five years and know how things are going on." * PA Sport
