Neil Warnock admits he will always carry a grudge against former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez.
QPR boss won't forgive former Reds boss ahead of Anfield visit
Neil Warnock insists he has no problem with Liverpool but admits he will always carry a grudge against their former manager Rafa Benitez.
Benitez was in charge of the Reds in May 2007 when Warnock's Sheffield United side were relegated from the Premier League, a fate he believes the Spaniard largely contributed to.
With Liverpool preparing for a UEFA Champions League final against Milan, Benitez fielded what Warnock believes was a hugely weakened side against Fulham in their last away game of the league season.
The Cottagers were in the relegation mix that term, and a subsequent 1-0 win over Liverpool propelled them to safety at the expense of the Blades.
Now manager of Queens Park Rangers and preparing for his first Premier League visit to Anfield since his time at Bramall Lane, Warnock insists he will never forgive and forget as far as Benitez is concerned.
"I don't hold a grudge against Liverpool. Liverpool is a fabulous club," he said.
"[But] I was disappointed in Benitez. I've always got on with the previous people and Kenny Dalglish is fantastic.
'Reserve team'
"But I'll never forgive Benitez for playing what wasn't even a reserve team.
"I'd understand it if the Champions League was the following week, but it was 18 days away. He didn't give two hoots.
"You don't ever forget things like that. I'll always remember that.
"Fulham will as well because they've stayed in the Premier League ever since and they were the worst team in the division."
Benitez's team at Craven Cottage that day included Jose Reina, Sami Hyypia, Xabi Alonso and Craig Bellamy, but Clint Dempsey scored the only goal of the game, as he did when the two sides met last Monday.
Warnock remains adamant Benitez scuppered his survival hopes, but hopes to get his revenge against the Spaniard, who is currently without a job in the game.
"Benitez sent me an email once saying that if I mentioned it again he'd take me to court," added Warnock. "Hopefully he'll be back in the game soon."