Blame Rick Parry and not me says Rafa Benitez

The two biggest transfer stories during the three off – season months are transfers that never took place.

The two moves in question are the Gareth Barry move from Aston Villa to Liverpool and Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United to Real Madrid.

Annoyed that everyone had been blaming him for everything from global warming to the rise in petrol prices, Liverpool’s manager Rafael Benitez laid the blame for the non – transfer of Aston Villa’s midfielder Gareth Barry squarely on the shoulders of Liverpool’s Chief Executive Rick Parry.

The relationship between the two has been strained for some time now and this final outburst could further widen the rift between the two and filter out onto the training ground and matches.

Benitez is still quietly confident of landing his man although the Liverpool Board may not be willing to pay the ₤18 million seeing that the player is now ineligible for the European Champions League.

Liverpool play Sunderland at the Stadium of Light today and the acrimonious atmosphere that was evident amongst the Liverpool hierarchy