Rafael Benitez is ready to do battle with Sir Alex Ferguson once again after insisting his commitment to Liverpool has not been shaken by a lack of transfer funds.
Benitez’s side begins their quest for a record-breaking 19th championship when they open their Premier League season at Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow.
Liverpool were the nearest rivals to Manchester United last season only to fall short in stopping their bitter North West neighbours from moving alongside them on 18 titles.
The emergence of Liverpool as strong contenders caused a deterioration in the relationship between Benitez and Old Trafford counterpart Ferguson.
And the United manager has already began stoking the flames by claiming Chelsea are the main threat to his team securing a fourth successive Premier League crown this season.
But Benitez has warned Ferguson he wants to further test the boundaries of his patience by pushing United all the way once again.
“I would like to win every game, so we will see how it affects the relationship,” said the Liverpool manager. “I want to win. If our fans are happy then I’m happy.”
Asked if Ferguson was already up to his old tricks with the comment on Chelsea, Benitez added: “I have no idea. There are a lot of top sides that can be very, very strong.
“We can always talk about the top four, but Manchester City are doing a very good job and have bought some excellent players. They will be a big problem to us, but mainly to United, as they are their neighbours.
“I can understand why Mr. Ferguson at Manchester United is a little bit worried.”
Benitez’s efforts to overhaul United have been hampered by a tightening of the purse strings by Liverpool’s American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
Close to £37million has been spent on Glen Johnson and Alberto Aquilani, but that has been recouped by the sales of Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa, Sebastian Leto, Adam Hammill, Paul Anderson and Jack Hobbs.
But Benitez has dismissed the notion the lack of major funds has made him have second thoughts after signing a new five-year contract in March.
“I don’t know too many managers happy with the money that they have to spend,” said the Spaniard. “There are two or three clubs around the world that have big, big money, but the rest of the managers I am sure will ask for more money.
“It is not impacting on my commitment. Always when you have some difficult, you have to work harder.
“We were doing a good job with the options that we had. We are happy with the additions, and if they can settle down quickly I will be really pleased because the rest of the squad is more or less the same.”
Liverpool, who have lost only two of their last 27 opening league games, are being tipped by many this season to end a title drought that stretches back to 1990, with many supporters similarly expectant.
But Benitez said: “I don’t feel any extra pressure because we haven’t won anything for three seasons.
“We have to manage the expectations. We know the situation. If you talk about the title, everybody is saying that we have to win it this season. But I don’t think so. We have to be realistic, we want to be in the top four and to be contenders.
“I was being asked the same questions this time last year, and I said we wanted to be in a good position come January. We were, and we stayed in a good position all the way through to the end of the season.
“We have tried to manage expectations but it’s not easy when we finished with 86 points last season and came so close, and people will now be talking about 20 years since winning the league.
“But that is the situation now. We have to work with the players, have confidence in the youngsters and try to improve the squad.
“How will we know if we are right or not? After three or four games you will see more or less where we are, and also where the other teams are.”
Johnson will make his debut at White Hart Lane tomorrow, while Benitez is hopeful Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel and Steven Gerrard will all overcome their injury niggles.
Benitez’s side begins their quest for a record-breaking 19th championship when they open their Premier League season at Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow.
Liverpool were the nearest rivals to Manchester United last season only to fall short in stopping their bitter North West neighbours from moving alongside them on 18 titles.
The emergence of Liverpool as strong contenders caused a deterioration in the relationship between Benitez and Old Trafford counterpart Ferguson.
And the United manager has already began stoking the flames by claiming Chelsea are the main threat to his team securing a fourth successive Premier League crown this season.
But Benitez has warned Ferguson he wants to further test the boundaries of his patience by pushing United all the way once again.
“I would like to win every game, so we will see how it affects the relationship,” said the Liverpool manager. “I want to win. If our fans are happy then I’m happy.”
Asked if Ferguson was already up to his old tricks with the comment on Chelsea, Benitez added: “I have no idea. There are a lot of top sides that can be very, very strong.
“We can always talk about the top four, but Manchester City are doing a very good job and have bought some excellent players. They will be a big problem to us, but mainly to United, as they are their neighbours.
“I can understand why Mr. Ferguson at Manchester United is a little bit worried.”
Benitez’s efforts to overhaul United have been hampered by a tightening of the purse strings by Liverpool’s American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
Close to £37million has been spent on Glen Johnson and Alberto Aquilani, but that has been recouped by the sales of Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa, Sebastian Leto, Adam Hammill, Paul Anderson and Jack Hobbs.
But Benitez has dismissed the notion the lack of major funds has made him have second thoughts after signing a new five-year contract in March.
“I don’t know too many managers happy with the money that they have to spend,” said the Spaniard. “There are two or three clubs around the world that have big, big money, but the rest of the managers I am sure will ask for more money.
“It is not impacting on my commitment. Always when you have some difficult, you have to work harder.
“We were doing a good job with the options that we had. We are happy with the additions, and if they can settle down quickly I will be really pleased because the rest of the squad is more or less the same.”
Liverpool, who have lost only two of their last 27 opening league games, are being tipped by many this season to end a title drought that stretches back to 1990, with many supporters similarly expectant.
But Benitez said: “I don’t feel any extra pressure because we haven’t won anything for three seasons.
“We have to manage the expectations. We know the situation. If you talk about the title, everybody is saying that we have to win it this season. But I don’t think so. We have to be realistic, we want to be in the top four and to be contenders.
“I was being asked the same questions this time last year, and I said we wanted to be in a good position come January. We were, and we stayed in a good position all the way through to the end of the season.
“We have tried to manage expectations but it’s not easy when we finished with 86 points last season and came so close, and people will now be talking about 20 years since winning the league.
“But that is the situation now. We have to work with the players, have confidence in the youngsters and try to improve the squad.
“How will we know if we are right or not? After three or four games you will see more or less where we are, and also where the other teams are.”
Johnson will make his debut at White Hart Lane tomorrow, while Benitez is hopeful Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel and Steven Gerrard will all overcome their injury niggles.
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