Ferguson defuses rivalry with show of love for Benitez

One small area of Anfield shall remain immune to the bile and animosity that has elevated the FA Cup tie between Liverpool and Manchester United to the security status usually reserved for England internationals tomorrow, but the respect between the dug-outs of Rafael Benitez and Sir Alex Ferguson is, for once, unlikely to be accepted as a show of leadership among their support.

The 14th FA Cup meeting between these bitterest of rivals is categorised as a C+ fixture, ensuring increased police outside the stadium to prevent the trouble that flared after United's Premiership victory over Liverpool at Old Trafford last month. Rio Ferdinand's last-gasp winner was almost forgotten amid the controversy of Gary Neville's manic celebrations in front of the away section and, though he made his displeasure at Greater Manchester Police's complaint about the United captain known, Ferguson issued a timely endorsement of his Anfield opponents' character yesterday.

Benitez and Ferguson enjoy a healthy relationship, with the United manager among the first to congratulate the former Valencia coach on his Champions' League success.

"I enjoyed his company in the last Uefa coaches' seminar," Ferguson said. "We sat beside each other on the coach going to the meeting and I think he's a straightforward guy. That's good to see and it does your players good, because they can see the quality of the person in terms of success has not changed him. That is vital in modern day football because the one thing we don't like to see is people change within our own confines. I don't like to see United players change and I'm sure Rafael is the same."

Ferguson awaits news on Ryan Giggs' hamstring problem before finalising his squad while Benitez hopes to welcome back Peter Crouch after missing two league games. The midfielder Xabi Alonso is a doubt with a knee injury.

Tomorrow's encounter also continues Wayne Rooney's attempts to claim the first silverware of his professional career. The 20-year-old is desperate to make amends for May's FA Cup final defeat by Arsenal in this season's competition and in next weekend's Carling Cup Final with Wigan.

"We deserved to win the FA Cup last season and we would have done if we had taken our chances,"said Rooney. "I still remember how I felt that day and I do not want to feel the same way again this year."