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LIVERPOOL, England (AP) - Rafa Benitez thinks Liverpool will continue to struggle to win the Premier League unless it can close the financial gulf with Manchester United.
Liverpool enters a must-win game Saturday against United at Old Trafford, where the Spanish manager has never won in five years of trying. With Liverpool having wasted its midpoint lead to trail United by seven points with one more game played, Benitez spent Friday bemoaning the disparity in the cash available to him and Alex Ferguson to build squads.
"The difference between us, maybe, is 100 million pounds spent on players and a big stadium," Benitez said. "There is a massive difference in terms of the two clubs and their squads. Players, transfer records, wages, there is a big difference. The problem this season is that we were so close, top for so long, that expectations were very high."
Liverpool topped the Premier League until mid-January, and belief mounted among fans that the club's 19-year wait for a championship was over. But a string of poor results followed, including draws against Stoke (twice), Hull and Fulham and losses to struggling Tottenham and Middlesbrough.
Despite some scintillating displays in the Champions League - like Tuesday's 4-0 rout of Real Madrid - it is the domestic title that fans are desperate to win, especially since a third consecutive title for United in May will match Liverpool's record haul of 18.
Benitez conceded that the title race is likely over unless Liverpool can get a win Saturday.
"If we don't win it will be very difficult to win the title," he said. "If we can play at the same level as we did against Real Madrid, then we can beat anyone."
Benitez, who has often complained about his lack of freedom to make deals in the transfer market, also said better unity is needed at the club if it is to launch a successful title bid.
The team will perform better, he said, "if everybody is together, if you don't make too many mistakes signing players, if you don't make too many mistakes around the club, if you don't make too many mistakes with team selection ... you have to do everything perfectly."
That seems easier for Liverpool to do on the European stage, having won the Champions League in 2005 and lost the final in 2007.
"In the Champions League sometimes the players are extra motivated, like the other day," he said.
Even Ferguson was forced to praise how Liverpool ripped apart Spanish champion Madrid, a day before his team struggled to oust Inter Milan to reach the quarterfinals.
"It was a good performance," Ferguson said. "Even though it wasn't Real Madrid as we know it."
Ferguson sees his clashes with Liverpool as the biggest rivalry in English football. The enmity between the sides was underlined by Wayne Rooney's comments on United's official Web site that he grew up "hating" Liverpool. Rooney started his career at Liverpool's crosstown rival Everton.
"It does not matter what the position in the league, as far as I am concerned, it has always been the derby game," Ferguson said. "It will always be that way because of the geography and history of the two cities. We are the two most successful football clubs in England.
"When they get together you expect sparks to fly. Hate is an easy word to say, easier than dislike. Maybe it is not the right word. But Wayne has had plenty of stick from Liverpool fans over the years, so it is understandable."
Benitez doesn't expect a hostile reception from Ferguson - despite his January tirade against the 22-season United veteran having too much control over referees.
"It was the right time to say what I said. They were facts, it was the right moment," Benitez said. "I do not regret saying anything, and it did not have any effect on results."
Liverpool enters a must-win game Saturday against United at Old Trafford, where the Spanish manager has never won in five years of trying. With Liverpool having wasted its midpoint lead to trail United by seven points with one more game played, Benitez spent Friday bemoaning the disparity in the cash available to him and Alex Ferguson to build squads.
"The difference between us, maybe, is 100 million pounds spent on players and a big stadium," Benitez said. "There is a massive difference in terms of the two clubs and their squads. Players, transfer records, wages, there is a big difference. The problem this season is that we were so close, top for so long, that expectations were very high."
Liverpool topped the Premier League until mid-January, and belief mounted among fans that the club's 19-year wait for a championship was over. But a string of poor results followed, including draws against Stoke (twice), Hull and Fulham and losses to struggling Tottenham and Middlesbrough.
Despite some scintillating displays in the Champions League - like Tuesday's 4-0 rout of Real Madrid - it is the domestic title that fans are desperate to win, especially since a third consecutive title for United in May will match Liverpool's record haul of 18.
Benitez conceded that the title race is likely over unless Liverpool can get a win Saturday.
"If we don't win it will be very difficult to win the title," he said. "If we can play at the same level as we did against Real Madrid, then we can beat anyone."
Benitez, who has often complained about his lack of freedom to make deals in the transfer market, also said better unity is needed at the club if it is to launch a successful title bid.
The team will perform better, he said, "if everybody is together, if you don't make too many mistakes signing players, if you don't make too many mistakes around the club, if you don't make too many mistakes with team selection ... you have to do everything perfectly."
That seems easier for Liverpool to do on the European stage, having won the Champions League in 2005 and lost the final in 2007.
"In the Champions League sometimes the players are extra motivated, like the other day," he said.
Even Ferguson was forced to praise how Liverpool ripped apart Spanish champion Madrid, a day before his team struggled to oust Inter Milan to reach the quarterfinals.
"It was a good performance," Ferguson said. "Even though it wasn't Real Madrid as we know it."
Ferguson sees his clashes with Liverpool as the biggest rivalry in English football. The enmity between the sides was underlined by Wayne Rooney's comments on United's official Web site that he grew up "hating" Liverpool. Rooney started his career at Liverpool's crosstown rival Everton.
"It does not matter what the position in the league, as far as I am concerned, it has always been the derby game," Ferguson said. "It will always be that way because of the geography and history of the two cities. We are the two most successful football clubs in England.
"When they get together you expect sparks to fly. Hate is an easy word to say, easier than dislike. Maybe it is not the right word. But Wayne has had plenty of stick from Liverpool fans over the years, so it is understandable."
Benitez doesn't expect a hostile reception from Ferguson - despite his January tirade against the 22-season United veteran having too much control over referees.
"It was the right time to say what I said. They were facts, it was the right moment," Benitez said. "I do not regret saying anything, and it did not have any effect on results."
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