Rafael Benitez wanted to talk about facts – but in the six years since the Spaniard directed that speech at Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson, fiction has taken over.
It was pegged as a rant, despite Benitez’s voice retaining similar cadence throughout; it was said to be a pivotal moment in the title race, although 37 games were yet to be played between the two sides.
It has also become known as the moment the championship tilted towards United; the press conference which gave Ferguson fresh life to bring the under-pressure Benitez down; the colossus of Anfield crumbling.
But at that time, Liverpool held a lead of just seven points over United, having played two games more.
When Benitez unfurled his piece of paper, his side’s title bid had started unfurling too - United were seven games into a 14-game run of clean sheets, picking up 17 points from a possible 21, while Liverpool had drawn four of their past seven.
Rafa’s so-called rant was not the reason their title bid fell short, but that is the myth perpetuated.
And now, it’s back. Foreign managers in surprise outbursts are back in vogue, it seems, with Louis van Gaal’s tactical tirade over long balls. No sooner had van Gaal finished waving his demonstrative dossier, and clips of Benitez followed.
Liverpool travelled to Stoke the following weekend and drew 0-0. Granted, Stoke were in a bad run of form, having not won in six games, but Tony Pulis’ Potters would ultimately lose just four home games in their first Premier League season.
Stoke’s previous home game, against Manchester United, had been a tight affair – but the pendulum swung towards United with a late red card for Andy Wilkinson, and an even later winning goal from Carlos Tevez.
When Liverpool came to the Britannia, Stoke were just as resolute, a side with Pulis’ indelible footprint all over them. Steven Gerrard hit the woodwork – twice – but it was not to be for the league leaders.
And yet, this was all because of Benitez’s actions; his words had disrupted the side and sent them into a tailspin. The reality, however, is that Liverpool drew at home with a motivated Everton, and then gave away a soft penalty seven minutes from time away to Wigan.
If Liverpool did throw away the title, they did so with home draws against Stoke, Fulham and West Ham. They did so by selling Robbie Keane, an undoubted flop after moving that summer, but still an option worth having on the bench.
But Liverpool didn’t throw it away. They would win 10 of their last 11 games, including a 4-1 victory at Old Trafford.
They simply fell short to a very good United side, one with a front three of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Tevez; a United side who, on two consecutive weeks, relied on a late Federico Macheda goal to turn two points into six.
This was a United side who would reach the Champions League final, and were widely tipped for the quadruple, and one who managed to keep 14 consecutive clean sheets in the league, Edwin van der Saar unbeatable for hours and hours.
Liverpool were a fine team and should consider themselves unfortunate not to win the title. Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, imperious throughout the season, started just 14 games between them. They lost just two games, but drew too many. Their reserves to call upon consisted of David N'Gog and Nabil El Zhar.
The stars just did not want to align for the Reds or Benitez.
None of that changed with a pre-prepared ‘rant’ – and no amount of revisionism should argue otherwise. Fact.
It was pegged as a rant, despite Benitez’s voice retaining similar cadence throughout; it was said to be a pivotal moment in the title race, although 37 games were yet to be played between the two sides.
It has also become known as the moment the championship tilted towards United; the press conference which gave Ferguson fresh life to bring the under-pressure Benitez down; the colossus of Anfield crumbling.
But at that time, Liverpool held a lead of just seven points over United, having played two games more.
When Benitez unfurled his piece of paper, his side’s title bid had started unfurling too - United were seven games into a 14-game run of clean sheets, picking up 17 points from a possible 21, while Liverpool had drawn four of their past seven.
Rafa’s so-called rant was not the reason their title bid fell short, but that is the myth perpetuated.
And now, it’s back. Foreign managers in surprise outbursts are back in vogue, it seems, with Louis van Gaal’s tactical tirade over long balls. No sooner had van Gaal finished waving his demonstrative dossier, and clips of Benitez followed.
Liverpool travelled to Stoke the following weekend and drew 0-0. Granted, Stoke were in a bad run of form, having not won in six games, but Tony Pulis’ Potters would ultimately lose just four home games in their first Premier League season.
Stoke’s previous home game, against Manchester United, had been a tight affair – but the pendulum swung towards United with a late red card for Andy Wilkinson, and an even later winning goal from Carlos Tevez.
When Liverpool came to the Britannia, Stoke were just as resolute, a side with Pulis’ indelible footprint all over them. Steven Gerrard hit the woodwork – twice – but it was not to be for the league leaders.
And yet, this was all because of Benitez’s actions; his words had disrupted the side and sent them into a tailspin. The reality, however, is that Liverpool drew at home with a motivated Everton, and then gave away a soft penalty seven minutes from time away to Wigan.
If Liverpool did throw away the title, they did so with home draws against Stoke, Fulham and West Ham. They did so by selling Robbie Keane, an undoubted flop after moving that summer, but still an option worth having on the bench.
But Liverpool didn’t throw it away. They would win 10 of their last 11 games, including a 4-1 victory at Old Trafford.
They simply fell short to a very good United side, one with a front three of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Tevez; a United side who, on two consecutive weeks, relied on a late Federico Macheda goal to turn two points into six.
This was a United side who would reach the Champions League final, and were widely tipped for the quadruple, and one who managed to keep 14 consecutive clean sheets in the league, Edwin van der Saar unbeatable for hours and hours.
Liverpool were a fine team and should consider themselves unfortunate not to win the title. Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, imperious throughout the season, started just 14 games between them. They lost just two games, but drew too many. Their reserves to call upon consisted of David N'Gog and Nabil El Zhar.
The stars just did not want to align for the Reds or Benitez.
None of that changed with a pre-prepared ‘rant’ – and no amount of revisionism should argue otherwise. Fact.
