The phoney war in the Barclays Premier League title race gave way to full-scale psychological conflict yesterday as Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, embarked on a remarkable outburst aimed at Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Manchester United manager, whose team take on Chelsea tomorrow afternoon, took a pot-shot at Liverpool this week by questioning whether the league leaders could cope with the pressure, but Benítez responded with interest in a premeditated tirade, saying that Ferguson appears to be above the law.

The Spaniard even claimed that Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Chelsea manager, should “man-mark” Ferguson and his coaching staff at Old Trafford tomorrow to ensure that they cannot try to influence Howard Webb, the referee.

Reading from prepared notes, Benítez ran through a list of “facts” about the champions’ manager.

Ferguson claims a new victim

Rafa Benitez has fallen for his arch-rival’s tricks: as the United manager knows, calm heads win league championships

• Rafael Benitez's rant at Manchester United in full

BACKGROUND

• Ferguson 'above law', claims angry Benitez

• Rivals get personal in title race

• Ferguson master of the mind games

Multimedia

• How today's Premiership action unfolded

“During the Respect campaign Mr Ferguson was charged by the FA with improper conduct after comments made against Martin Atkinson [the referee] and Keith Hackett [the general manager of Professional Game Match Officials Limited],” he said. “He was not punished. He is the only manager in the league that cannot be punished for these things.

“Then he was talking about the fixtures [complaining that the schedule is unfair to United]. Two years ago we were playing a lot of early kick-offs away on Saturdays when United were playing on Sundays. And we didn’t say anything. Now he is complaining that everybody is against United.”

He added, sarcastically, that one option would be that “Mr Ferguson organises the fixtures in his office and sends it to us and everyone will know and cannot complain”.

Benítez was accused by some journalists of rising to Ferguson’s bait and falling for the “mind games” that famously drew an overemotional response from Kevin Keegan, the Newcastle United manager at the time, in the heat of the title race in the 1995-96 campaign. “We need to know that I am talking about facts, not my impression,” Benítez replied. “There are things that everyone can see.”

Ferguson indulged in a little psychological warfare of his own yesterday, talking of Chelsea’s “experienced” squad while lauding the youthful exuberance of his team, who beat the London club to the Premier League and the Champions League last season.

Speaking of the challenge to reclaim supremacy from Chelsea, who were bankrolled to two Premier League titles by Roman Abramovich, their billionaire owner, Ferguson said: “Our philosophy was to build a team that could last for years. Chelsea were spending money a different way.

“We didn’t have the same spending power as them, so we had to look at things a different way. And I think we did it the right way, in terms of what Manchester United is all about.”

Benítez, who took over at Anfield in June 2004, also expressed frustration at the hold-up in finalising his new contract. The Spaniard has reached an outline agreement over personal terms but, with his requests for greater control over transfer policy yet to be approved by the club’s American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, he has yet to receive a formal contract offer.

Benítez said: “My agent has not yet received any documents and he is a little disappointed. But OK, we will see what happens. I do not want to say too much at the moment.”