SOCCER:ALEX FERGUSON, backed up by his close friend Sam Allardyce, launched a sustained attack on Rafael Benitez last night. The pair accused the Liverpool manager of being "arrogant", lacking "humility" and displaying "absolute contempt".

Ferguson first criticised the Spaniard for dismissing Everton, Manchester United’s opponents in tomorrow’s FA Cup semi-final, as a “small club”. He then alleged Benitez had openly taunted Allardyce during Liverpool’s 4-0 defeat of Blackburn Rovers at Anfield last Saturday, making a provocative gesture to signal that the game was effectively over once the second goal was scored.

“I don’t think any other Liverpool manager in the past would ever have done that,” Ferguson said. “But he (Benitez) is beyond the pale.”

The claims were ridiculed at Anfield where there is a strong suspicion that Ferguson and Allardyce, both of whom dislike Benitez, collaborated before their respective press conferences yesterday.

“Rafa has laughed off what is clearly a co-ordinated attack on him,” said a source close to the Liverpool manager.

Allardyce also questioned Benitez’s “humility”, using similar language. “He (Benitez) opened his arms out and then crossed them over as if to say: ‘That’s it!’ The gestures he made were dismissive to myself and to Blackburn Rovers,” Allardyce said. “They were disrespectful and quite humiliating.”

Ferguson, who said he had not spoken to Allardyce and had seen it on Match of the Day, went further. “There’s one thing with his (Benitez’) arrogance that you can’t forgive and that is his contempt for Sam Allardyce last week. Did you see it? Absolute contempt! He went like that (crossing his arms back and forth) as if to say: ‘Game finished!’ I don’t think Sam Allardyce deserved that. A guy who has worked so hard for the League Managers Association, looking after young managers and players, he didn’t deserve that.”

Benitez is yet to respond but there is a sense of bemusement inside Anfield about the allegations and, in particular, why Ferguson has felt it necessary to get involved. Allardyce did not raise the issue after the match and Benitez says the only gesture he made was a self-deprecating one to Xabi Alonso because the goal had originated from the midfielder ignoring his advice at a free-kick.

Benitez instructed Alonso and Emiliano Insua to take a short free-kick and attack the Blackburn full-back, Republic of Ireland international Keith Andrews, two versus one. Instead, Alonso whipped in a long ball that Fernando Torres headed home and the Liverpool manager responded with a gesture to his players that apparently loosely translated as: “You were right. What do I know?”

The TV pictures appear to support Benitez but Ferguson says there is a case to answer. “I saw it and I’m surprised nobody picked it up,” he said. “I think you should respect a manager. You have to have humility.”

Ferguson feels Benitez reacts badly when he does not get his own way. And the pressure is unlikely to get any less intense over the next few weeks as Liverpool chase their first championship since 1990.

Asked whether he had ever had any altercations with Benitez during games, Ferguson replied: “I’ve never had any of these issues like that. He’s never done that – never had a chance.”

Of Benitez’ remarks in 2007 about Everton being a “small club”, Ferguson added: “Irrespective of what Rafael Benitez says, they are a big club. He called them a small club, which just points to his arrogance.”

“When you go back to the 1960s and 1980s Everton were the dominant team. But after Howard Kendall left they seemed to have financial problems from time to time. But (Everton manager) David Moyes is building a big club. The evidence is there. My problem on Sunday is that we will face a very hungry team.

“David has to win a trophy. I know he is feeling that way and this is a big opportunity for him.”

Allardyce has not got on with the Spaniard since his time as Bolton Wanderers. He said: “I went to have a word with Benitez after the game but unfortunately and, as usual, he didn’t turn up.

“He probably was avoiding me and that shows you the measure of the man. It was a gesture that said to me: ‘Finished, you’re done.’ He didn’t do it directly at me, but it was more or less in my direction.

“I’ve taken all week to have a calm and clinical look at it. I can only be of the opinion that’s what he meant by it. From someone of his standing I’d expect better – but that’s the way the man is. He needs to show a bit of humility.”