Redray

He seems to be at it again; My team's better than your team, blasts Benitez as Liverpool boss re-opens war of words with 'nervous' United manager Fergie Rafa Benitez has launched another scathing attack on bitter rival Sir Alex Ferguson , claiming the Manchester United boss believes he has a 'licence' to play mind games.The Liverpool manager, whose side were overtaken by United at the top of the Barclays Premier League after the Red Devils cruised to a 2-0 victory over Portsmouth, cranked up the tension between the pair by claiming he has a better side than United. Benitez said: 'I'm not having a battle of words with Alex Ferguson, but I believe that he can see that we are the better side, and that we are very close to United. 'Nobody has ever said anything against him, or stood up to him, as he has a very good team that can win trophies.'It seems like he has a licence to do these sorts of things.' The Madrid-born Anfield boss, 49, who recently signed a contract extension until 2014, also declared his intention to sign more Spanish players during the summer. 'I try not to talk too much,' he told Spanish daily ABC. 'But all I do when I speak is to defend my own team. 'I did not say that he seems frightened. But I said that he looks nervous, as he can see that we are very close to his team. 'I always said that I was very keen to continue at Liverpool," he insisted. "I just had to discuss a few matters relating to the job of being a manager in England, including the power to take part in transfer negotiations and to make decisions. 'I did not have these prerogatives, but we resolved the matter. I always say that if a club wants to convince a player to join them, the person he has to speak to is the manager. 'I'm working every day with our scouting department and our coaching staff, weighing up the future of every one of our players and the possibilities of bringing in new ones. 'Will I look in Spain? I have always said that Spanish players have fully demonstrated their qualities - and that they are at the highest possible level.' http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...e.html?ITO=1490

I'd say a defeat and two draws a real possibility from all the games you mention there.

Or one and draw two. Perfectly possible.

More importantly, Wenger may still feel he can overhaul them for the 3rd place he wants. Keeps his interest there for their game against the mancs in the league for now anyway.

Having a go Pompey.

Oh for f***s sake just get the bell player on.

It's too disrespectful to attack the best team in the world in their own backyard. Disgraceful performance.

A sign of life? Pennant coming on.

Gigg misses from 6 yards. They are playing absolute s**** and will drop points. Unfortunately not to these who are making Blackburn look a decent unit

Yeah I was being ironic. Hope they show some spine or our GD advantage could go tonight.

I can sense a thrilling Pompey comeback. it will happen.

Rooney scores

all pompey so far so yes they are up for it, if nothing more.

Hope so. Is Ferdinand injured? Interesting if he is not.

On the bench. James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Davis, Mullins, Hughes, Belhadj, Nugent, Crouch. Subs: Begovic, Pennant, Pamarot, Utaka, Cranie, Kanu, Basinas.

If that happens it will go against the grain over the last four years. Every year the total points achieved by the champions has always decreased. 2005 Chelsea 95 2006 Chelsea 91 2007 Mancs 89 2008 Mancs 87

In a Garcia kind of way

Portsmouth know how to grind out a result it seems. They haven't been beaten away under the new managerial partnership.

Possibly, but last year they only won it by 2 points over Chelsea so there was a bit pressure to the end.

So if they keep to this 'form', they will get between say 10 to 14 points. This means they finish with 81-85 points. We win all our games and we finish with 86 points. Hardly an authority for anything but I remember Wenger saying before christmas that he though 84 points would win the league this year. Still all to play for.

nicked from another site; "Since taking over Pompey, Hart and Kidd have been in charge over eight games. Five of these have been at home, of which they've picked up 10 points, losing only to Chelsea. Of their three away games, they've grinded out draws at Stoke (Who have the 5th best home record in the league), as well as Hull and Boro, two teams in a relegation battle. Hart and Kidd know how to grind out games, as well as coming back from losing, albeit a lucky deflection in the Stoke game." Deffo 0-0 tonight

Also if we don't win all our remaining games this season Chelsea will take 2nd place.

At last a modicum of comfort! comment by SuperPompeyStayingUpSkummersGoingDown (U13773701) Theres no way were go to old trafford and lose, have you seen them lately? They are awful. There going to mess up the league and the champs league. Theres always one top four team that messes up to chanes of silverware in just one week. Now this is there week, were solid lately. It will be a boring 0-0. And man utd will boo at the end. All so predictable! http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A50221432 i'll have that SuperPompeyStayingUpSkummersGoingDown lad!

They are potentially two defeats away from the bottom three. They should be scrapping for their lives tonight but couldn't find any sense of them or their fans being pumped up for this game anywhere in the press and their forums are dead. Resigned to defeat already? I thought Adams had gone. What is the matter with these people?

But no one can deny that we on the verge of something quite special. Also it raises an interesting question; Which of these two would be ultimately more satisfying? 1 Preventing the Mancs from equalling our title haul, or 2 Accelerate away from them at great speed in terms of titles just as soon as they had managed to finally draw level?