SOCCER/Liverpool v Manchester Utd: Anfield Kick-off 12.45pm Sky Sports 1: Alex Ferguson ushered in a weekend of huge significance for the Premiership title race by targeting Jose Mourinho in a prolonged attack most notable for his assertion that the Chelsea manager should "button his lip" and behave with greater dignity. Ferguson has always been loth to engage Mourinho in verbal warfare but last night he accused his rival of hypocrisy and talking too much.
Ferguson has been incensed by Mourinho's remarks this week that Manchester United get all the luck, and specifically the claim that "it looks like everything is on their side". Mourinho claimed United had good fortune with injuries but he also touched upon refereeing decisions that had gone in Cristiano Ronaldo's favour.
"I think Jose should button his lip for the rest of the season," said Ferguson. "Jose has come out with some stuff about us this week. We expected that. He's on about referees and, God, I think he is the last person who should ever talk about referees. Goodness me, his football club have been involved in so many things with referees over the last couple of years."
Ferguson has always claimed to like Mourinho but he has become increasingly aggrieved by some of his rival's more provocative behaviour and it is clear that his regard for the Portuguese has been seriously eroded. Chelsea have become a club Ferguson passionately dislikes and after biting his lip for most of the season he decided, after careful planning, this was the time to speak out.
"It seems to me that, if you contest Chelsea and they don't get their own way, then something happens - either with referees, players being threatened, things like that," he said. "It's an incredible club, it really is."
United will be 12 points clear if they beat Liverpool at lunchtime, albeit having played two games more by the time Chelsea play at Portsmouth, and Ferguson suggested Mourinho and his players had resorted to psychological warfare in a deliberate bid to unsettle the Premiership leaders. In particular, he cited Claude Makelele's observation that a defeat for United at Anfield would re-establish Chelsea as favourites to win the title for a third successive season.
"We can expect a lot of the Chelsea players to come out with this sort of stuff between now and the end of the season," said Ferguson. "Makelele has already had something to say. Ballack has said a few things. They're all having their say. Which is good. We've probably tried these things ourselves in the past.
"They can try (mind games). Nothing can stop them. But we may have some answers as well, you know. I may be only just beginning because there is plenty for me to talk about with Jose and referees, and Chelsea and referees. I've got a catalogue of them, a big file, in my office if you want me to bring it out. But we'll leave that for another day."
Ferguson was making reference to a number of dubious decisions that have gone in Chelsea's favour over the last two and a half seasons. He also described the behaviour of the Chelsea and Arsenal players in last weekend's League Cup final as "unacceptable", saying: "You cannot blame the referee for that. The clubs have to look at themselves."
Rafael Benitez is due to choose his strongest line-up for United's visit, despite the proximity of the Champions League match against Barcelona on Tuesday which presents Liverpool with their only realistic route to a trophy this season.
Liverpool are yet to beat United in the Premiership under Benitez and currently trail the league leaders by 16 points, but the Spaniard wants to inflict psychological damage on Ferguson's side. He will pick the likes of Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and possibly Mohamed Sissoko, who all could play against the reigning European champions three days later.
Only the long-term absentees Harry Kewell and Luis Garcia are unavailable, and Peter Crouch will not have surgery on the broken nose he sustained against Sheffield United last week until after the Barcelona tie.
"While we know this is a good team we're coming up against, we have confidence that we will win. When you're up against a team that is winning almost every week, you cannot afford to put out a sub-standard side. We go into this match with a line-up that can beat them," said Benitez.
United will also go with a strong team but are without Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who will be out for the rest of the month after knee surgery.
Meanwhile, Lille could appeal to the Court of Arbitration after Uefa rejected their protest yesterday about Manchester United's goal in the Champions League. The French side were angry that Ryan Giggs's free-kick was allowed to stand to give United a 1-0 first leg win. Uefa had rejected an initial protest by Lille, who followed up with an appeal, but that has also been turned down.
Guardian Service
