Liverpool on course to shatter ManU empire: Benitez

LONDON - Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is convinced that he is on course to shatter the Manchester United empire.

Benitez takes his side to Old Trafford on the back of Tuesday’s Euro win over Real Madrid. He knows even his first- ever league victory at United would leave the title as no more than a faint hope.

Manchester United, the defending champions would still be four points ahead, with a game in hand.

Yet the Spaniard has seen enough this term to back up his belief that he will eventually mastermind the toppling of United, even if it is not this season, The Sun reported.

“I think we can. This year has been better than before and, with one or two more goals, we could have been about four points closer. So, of course, we can do it,” Benitez said.

“This year we’ve been up there for a long time. But we have also made some mistakes. If we cut those out in the future, we’ll be even closer. Then maybe the motivation would be different for everyone,” he said.

Benitez put himself in the firing-line with his infamous rant against Ferguson, claiming he had too much influence over referees and got preferential treatment from the FA.

After his outburst before the draw at Stoke in early January, Liverpool went four games without a win and crashed out of the FA Cup at Everton. Meanwhile United cruised past them at the top.

Ferguson admitted he was baffled by what the Kop boss said, joking he would have to read more Freud before he could work the statements out.