Rafa's Barbed United Insight

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has returned Sir Alex Ferguson's pop at Robbie Keane and believes that the Irishmen can do the same if he scores in the north-west derby on Saturday 13 September.


Key Liverpudlian pair Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres were initial doubts for this clash due to a respective double groin operation and hamstring trouble keeping the duo at bay.

Rafa Benitez, speaking ahead of the United visit of Anfield this weekend, told journalists at a press conference that both Gerrard and Torres have made good progress.

The Spanish manager also mentioned that considering United's consistent heavy spending in the transfer market, Sir Alex Ferguson has no right in commenting on Robbie Keane's £20million transfer to Liverpool.

"For me we were better than them in our last two home games; we conceded from set pieces. I want to win against every team, but especially against United… because of the rivalry. Gerrard and Torres have made good progress so they are in the squad and will play," the former Valencia chief said.

Regarding the added firepower that Ferguson has recently installed in the club, Benitez said: "Berbatov is a good player - they have found another good player. Our strikers are really good so they can match them, not in terms of price though! In terms of quality ours are good."

"I was surprised when he spent £30million," the 48-year old said. "He spends this money every summer. He can talk about Robbie Keane but he needs to know how much money he spends. The last game we played against them they had Nani, Hargreaves, and Tevez on the bench – we are talking about £70milion of pounds!"

"If Robbie can score then it will be good for him and for us. He’s training well, he’s a good professional, a nice boy. He needs to score goals in a row," he concluded.