Sir Alex Ferguson insists Rafael Benitez is trying to influence referee Steve Bennett ahead of Manchester United's showdown with Liverpool.Anfield boss Benitez described United counterpart Ferguson as "clever" for repeatedly complaining about the lack of protection given by officials to star player Cristiano Ronaldo in the build-up to the Old Trafford clash.

But Ferguson hit back, saying in the Mail on Sunday: "Rafa is trying to get the referee on his side. He must think we are bloody stupid."

Ferguson nevertheless is relishing the prospect of another ferocious battle with Liverpool.

Ferguson's side, three points clear at the top of the Premier League, face a stern test of their title ambitions as their great rivals visit Old Trafford on the back of seven straight wins.

No love is ever lost between the two teams and this time, with just eight matches remaining, the stakes are high for both clubs.

United will hope to score a psychological blow ahead of the clash between closest challengers Arsenal and Chelsea later in the day while Liverpool are keen to cement their grip on fourth place.

On the face of it, Ferguson could be forgiven for wishing for more modest opponents than their fellow Champions League quarter-finalists, but the Scot insists he would have it no other way.

"We have got a big game, a massive game - I enjoy the madness of it. I love the Liverpool games and the players do," he said.

"They'll be anticipating a really difficult game, but they are the games you want to be playing in."

Recent history is on Ferguson's side with Liverpool having failed to beat United in all seven Premier League meetings since Rafael Benitez took charge at Anfield in 2004.

Liverpool have taken just one point from those games and scored only one goal - an unenviable record they will be anxious to amend.

Key to their hopes will be Fernando Torres, the in-form striker who has scored 10 goals in his last eight matches and 27 in total this season.

Torres was once a target for Ferguson before Liverpool prised him away from Atletico Madrid and the United boss is well aware of the danger he poses.

Ferguson said: "For a first season in the premier division, he has to be very pleased with that. I'm sure Rafa's delighted with that return.

"I don't think he came here with any great doubts - he had a good record in Spain and is a Spanish international."

The meeting of Torres and United's star attraction Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored 33 goals this season, has been much hyped.

Ferguson said of the match-up: "It doesn't concern me at all.

"I'm only concerned about one player, and that's our man. I don't pay attention to these things."

Ferguson also insists he has no concerns about the form of England striker Wayne Rooney, who has not scored for five games and has hit just 13 all season.

Rooney's last Old Trafford goal came as far back as October but Ferguson is confident he will deliver as the pressure increases over the closing weeks of the campaign.

"The season is not finished yet," Ferguson said. "He showed his real form towards the end of last season, when he scored important goals for us.

"So he is well capable of getting beyond 20 goals again.

"I think all strikers, particularly young strikers, when they are not scoring start wondering where the next goal is coming from and when they are scoring they think it is not going to end.

"I see that time and time again - he isn't any different. All the strikers have that confidence factor in their make-up and they need that when they are scoring.

"I think that with Wayne, by the end of the season, he'll score more than 20

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