• Liverpool manager covering-up deficiencies, says Allardyce
• ‘I don’t like him and the feeling is probably mutual’

Sam Allardyce claims Rafa Benítez’s criticism of him is a cover-up for how bad Liverpool are and claims the Reds have all but blown their chance of finishing in the top four.

Benítez last week mocked Allardyce’s behaviour and Blackburn’s style after their match at Anfield, suggesting that the European champions Barcelona were going to model themselves on Rovers: “He is a model for football all around the world. I am sure he is a model for behaviour and for kids all around the world. I am sure Barcelona are thinking of copying this style now too.”

But the Blackburn manager has hit back by claiming he has managed to get under the skin of Benítez and that the Liverpool boss was just covering up for how badly his team played despite the Reds’ 2-1 win.

“It was a good cover-up by Rafa because he knows how bad his side were and that was repeated against Wigan on Monday night,” said Allardyce. “He’s got personal with it for many, many years now. That’s why I don’t like him and the feeling is probably mutual. I don’t get personal with him; I get into him and under his skin, yes, but that’s all part of the game.

“The tit for tat between me and Rafa will probably go on until one of us is no longer a Premier League manager. I’ve managed to psyche out one or two here and there and that’s how the Premier League has evolved over the last 20 years. But no, Pep Guardiola has not been in touch yet.”

He also believes Liverpool’s result at Wigan leaves Benítez’s side unlikely to finish fourth and qualify for the Champions League.

He added: “The last time one of the big four didn’t finish in the top four it was Liverpool – Everton got that spot – and I think this time it looks pretty difficult having lost against Wigan. They are having to rely on other teams slipping up now.

“They have a wealth of experience and that may be a telling factor when the nerve ends start jangling. We saw what happened to Tottenham a few years ago with the famous ‘poisoned lasagne’ scenario – which was obviously never the case – and they let it slip.

“But I think it might be more difficult for Liverpool this time around because there are more teams involved. There’s Manchester City, Aston Villa and Tottenham in there and if Everton keep rolling on you might be surprised to see them making a late run.”

Meanwhile, Vince Grella will miss Blackburn’s match at Tottenham on Saturday due to a calf injury picked up in training but David Dunn is available after coming through a reserve match without any problems.

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• Torres: Rafa has enough to deal with with what he’s got
• Carragher prays striker will not get injured against France

Fernando Torres is keen for as much international playing time as possible despite the Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez’s concerns over the striker, who has recently returned from a lengthy lay-off after knee surgery. Benítez will hope Torres returns from Spain without picking up any new knocks in the European champions’ friendly against France on Wednesday.

Spain’s coach Vicente del Bosque has denied falling out with the Liverpool manager after naming Torres in his squad, and insists he will monitor the amount of time the forward is on the pitch.

But Torres claims Benítez’s worries are of little concern to him. “Rafa has enough to deal with with what he’s got,” he told reporters as he arrived at Spain’s training camp. “It’s normal that he’s thinking about his interests but he knows that all the players want to go to the national team. For us it is an honour to be here, to play as much as possible and to return as fit as possible to our teams.

“Luckily, I recovered in time. To be in the national squad is a prize for me. I have the good fortune that the coach called me up after playing just two games since I recovered [from the knee surgery].

“I’m tired after playing nearly 90 minutes after two months of not doing so, but I’m ready for as much as the coach thinks is right. These games are always special for Spain. We can’t wait to play against [France], especially after they knocked us out of the last World Cup. We always have it in for them.”

His club-mate Jamie Carragher, meanwhile, has praised the talent of Torres, expressing hope the player will come through the friendly unscathed to spearhead the club’s bid for Champions League football next season. Torres marked his first start since 13 January with the winning goal in the 2-1 victory over Blackburn at Anfield yesterday.

The Spain international has scored 13 goals in 17 Premier League appearances and despite having missed nearly six weeks, is still the club’s top scorer.

“Fernando has come back in and it goes without saying how much we have missed him,” said Carragher. “He is still our top scorer, the kind of special player who will make a difference. He’s a big, powerful lad, who is right up for the fight, and he’s ideally suited to English football. That’s why he’s done so well.

“It would be wrong to rely on just one man. After all, you never know, he could come back injured off international duty. Please God, that doesn’t happen, but he makes a big difference and you can see we are a much better team when he is with us.”

However Just when it seemed Liverpool’s injury problems were over they have had three defenders injured in five days. Martin Skrtel has been ruled out for weeks after breaking a metatarsal in his right foot against Unirea Urziceni while Fábio Aurélio limped off with a thigh injury against Blackburn and Daniel Agger’s knee problem meant he left Anfield on crutches yesterday.

The good news is that the right-back Glen Johnson’s recovery from a knee injury may see him make his first appearance since 29 December at Wigan a week today.

“Glen will be back soon, maybe in time for Wigan, and things are looking a bit more rosy,” Carragher told the Liverpool Echo. “You talk about having a squad, but we’ve got our big players back.”

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