As the row generated by the Liverpool boss's anti-Manchester United rant rumbles on, the Liverpool striking legend thinks that the players should use it to their advantage.
Liverpool striking legend Ian Rush has reacted to the ongoing row begun by Rafael Benitez (pictured) last week when he accused the Football Association of giving preferential treatment to Manchester United.
Benitez added to those remarks at the beginning of the week, when he claimed that United chief executive David Gill's role on the board at the FA created a conflict of interest with his role at Manchester United.
Gill dismissed Benitez's further remarks out of hand with a statement today claiming that the Spaniard had "missed the boat", but Rush wants the Reds players to concentrate on what happens on the pitch, not the 'mind games' going on off it.
"Like everyone else I was surprised when Rafa Benitez came out as strongly as he did against Alex Ferguson," Rush states, in his column in the The Liverpool Echo.
"Only in the fullness of time will we know whether or not it was the right thing to do but at least now everyone’s cards are on the table we can let battle commence at the top of the table."
Rush went on to assert that the great Liverpool teams of the past always answered criticism by playing well and winning things, and the current squad would do well to emulate their renowned predecessors.
"For me it is always better to do your talking on the pitch, that was a motto we were brought up on at Anfield and I think it is as true today as it was back in the days when I was a player," he continued.
"Nothing puts pressure on rival managers like winning games and had Liverpool beaten Stoke on Saturday I’m sure it would have made life more difficult for Man United against Chelsea than it eventually was.
"In the event, Liverpool had a disappointing draw with Stoke and that meant United went into their own game knowing that a win would cut the gap Benitez’s side had built up over them.
"That’s what happened of course – United were given an even greater incentive to win and they took it."
And the man who formed such a lethal strike partnership with Kenny Dalglish in the glory days of the 1980's thinks that a positive reaction is essential as the margins for error at the top are so slim.
Now Liverpool must look at the way they have reacted and learn from it because when you are going head to head with the reigning champions you have to try and take the advantage whenever you can and the best way of doing that is by winning the games you are expected to win," he added, by way of conclusion.
Liverpool striking legend Ian Rush has reacted to the ongoing row begun by Rafael Benitez (pictured) last week when he accused the Football Association of giving preferential treatment to Manchester United.
Benitez added to those remarks at the beginning of the week, when he claimed that United chief executive David Gill's role on the board at the FA created a conflict of interest with his role at Manchester United.
Gill dismissed Benitez's further remarks out of hand with a statement today claiming that the Spaniard had "missed the boat", but Rush wants the Reds players to concentrate on what happens on the pitch, not the 'mind games' going on off it.
"Like everyone else I was surprised when Rafa Benitez came out as strongly as he did against Alex Ferguson," Rush states, in his column in the The Liverpool Echo.
"Only in the fullness of time will we know whether or not it was the right thing to do but at least now everyone’s cards are on the table we can let battle commence at the top of the table."
Rush went on to assert that the great Liverpool teams of the past always answered criticism by playing well and winning things, and the current squad would do well to emulate their renowned predecessors.
"For me it is always better to do your talking on the pitch, that was a motto we were brought up on at Anfield and I think it is as true today as it was back in the days when I was a player," he continued.
"Nothing puts pressure on rival managers like winning games and had Liverpool beaten Stoke on Saturday I’m sure it would have made life more difficult for Man United against Chelsea than it eventually was.
"In the event, Liverpool had a disappointing draw with Stoke and that meant United went into their own game knowing that a win would cut the gap Benitez’s side had built up over them.
"That’s what happened of course – United were given an even greater incentive to win and they took it."
And the man who formed such a lethal strike partnership with Kenny Dalglish in the glory days of the 1980's thinks that a positive reaction is essential as the margins for error at the top are so slim.
Now Liverpool must look at the way they have reacted and learn from it because when you are going head to head with the reigning champions you have to try and take the advantage whenever you can and the best way of doing that is by winning the games you are expected to win," he added, by way of conclusion.
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