Torres backing for Benitez

Torres: Supports Benitez

There is rivalry between United and Liverpool and we are ready with Rafa.
Fernando Torres

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Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has leapt to the defence of Rafa Benitez and believes his manager is as 'good and strong' as Sir Alex Ferguson.

Last week Benitez launched an astonishing attack on Ferguson, claiming the United chief was the only manager to avoid punishment by the Football Association and pouring scorn on the Scot's complaints about the fixture list.

The rant has seen Benitez - who took over at Anfield in 2004 - come in for criticism, especially in the wake of Liverpool's stalemate at Stoke on Saturday, but Torres has backed his boss.

"The manager is as good and strong as Ferguson and he thinks he had to say these things," Torres said in the Daily Star.

"I don't know why but he has his reasons. He has all our support and we are with him all the way.

Inspire

"I don't know whether United are favoured by referees and other things. If you win the Premier League you deserve to win it. It is difficult. But he has been here six years and he feels these things.

"It is inspiring to see your manager take the fight to Manchester United. The manager can compete with anyone. He has proved that in Spain.

"He won the league with Valencia from Barcelona and Real Madrid. He has what it takes and now he is enjoying it here. Liverpool is a massive club and he wants to win.

"Rafa is more English than Spanish. He learns a lot every day. There is rivalry between United and Liverpool and we are ready with him."

Meanwhile, Jamie Carragher insists there is no need to panic in the Premier League title race following the weekend's goalless draw at the Britannia Stadium.

Make or break

"We all want to win the league so much that when we don't get a victory people get upset. It's normal," said the centre-back.

"But we have to remember we're not at the make or break stage just yet.

"When March or April comes around and you need three points rather than one, then I can understand people becoming really annoyed if it doesn't happen. But not now, it's too early for it.

"If we want to have success, we can't have that anxiety during every league game for the next four or five months."