Rafael Benitez has demanded retrospective video evidence be used to protect all the country's most skilful players.

It is the Liverpool boss' response to Sir Alex Ferguson's plea for protection for Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo.

Benitez has witnessed Ferguson's recent attack on referees, and players he claims are trying to kick Ronaldo out of matches.

Benitez and Ferguson clash at Old Trafford on Sunday in the 150th league meeting between United and Liverpool.

The Reds boss sees much of Ferguson's approach as clever verbal tactics to influence officials.

But the Spaniard, who insists Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard should also be given protection, has his own view on stamping out the darker side of the game.

Benitez said: "I have always felt that video evidence should be used after a game for disciplinary matters.

"You can find things, you can protect players for the next game. Everyone will see that players have to be careful, they will say 'I can't do this again because I could be banned on what the video shows'.

"To me it is clear, you do not need to change the game, you just need to analyse what has happened. If players get banned for three games the first week it is done, then three games on the second week and more on the third, it will soon stop.

"It will take just a few weeks of this type of action and things will change very quickly."

Currently the football authorities are hamstrung in attempts to punish players after matches if the referee has already dealt with the incident during the game.

Benitez would not be drawn into a public debate on the Eduardo da Silva incident at Birmingham, where the Arsenal striker had his leg broken by Martin Taylor's challenge.

But he feels there is a disparity between a player being out for nine months and the perpetrator serving only a three-match ban, even if it is acceped Taylor did not set out to intentionally hurt Eduardo.

Likewise, the inability of the authorities to deal with Chelsea defender Ashley Cole's tackle and behaviour towards referee Mike Riley at Tottenham this week concerns Benitez.

He said: "A lack of respect for officials is the same problem, more or less, in lots of countries and major leagues.

"It is something we can improve. The players and managers must set an example for youngsters.

"I certainly try to do this. Sometimes you can be bitterly disappointed by something but you must try to be calm and try not to create any problem for referees.

"It is different talking about using technology to judge goals, which FIFA have rejected. To use technology for incidents in a game is valid.

"If a referee gives a yellow card for a tackle, or a yellow card for use of the elbow, and then afterwards you can see the intent, then why can the decision not be changed?

"A referee can say he made a mistake. And the next time, the next player will not do the same."

And on the question of protection for skilled players, Benitez wants to go beyond Ferguson's reaction to some of the treatment Ronaldo is receiving.

He said: "Sir Alex Ferguson is talking about referees and to protect Ronaldo. My view is that it is also important to protect Torres, Ronaldo and any player with quality.

"Everyone should be treated the same, then the situation would be perfect."

Steve Bennett has been put in charge of Sunday's clash, and Benitez said: "The referee has experience. I have no problems with him. But Ferguson was talking before about such things, then he talks about Ronaldo and protection. He is certainly clever with such things.

"He is just doing his job. But the referee has experience and I know he will be very good.

"I don't want to talk about just Ronaldo or Torres. Skilful players must be protected. We need to help referees and we need to look at the video afterwards to see what has happened.

"Players will then know that there are cameras watching them. The video is really important. You can make mistakes during a game, but the video will allow things to be analysed.

"I know that Ferguson is very clever, he has talked about referees, he has talked about protecting key players, and that before playing us.

"But I feel it should be the same for everyone. I have a lot of respect for referees and hope that it (protection) will be the same for everyone."

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