Benitez is not immune from criticizing refs. Before April's Champions League semifinal with Chelsea, he highlighted the "curious record" of referee Roberto Rossetti, whose matches tended to see the home team prevailing.

Liverpool leads Chelsea atop the league standings by three points — with United four points further adrift, albeit with two games in hand.

Ferguson, who has been in charge at Old Trafford since 1986, said last week the club's title defense was being "handicapped by the Premier League" because United had away games during the first half of the season against nine of the 10 teams that finished directly below it last season.

The Spaniard hinted that Ferguson might be uneasy that Liverpool was leading the league.

"He is complaining about everything, that everybody is against United," Benitez said. "But the second half of the season will see them playing at home against all the teams at the top of the table, it is a fantastic advantage.

"Maybe they (Manchester United) are nervous because we are at the top of the table. I want to be clear, I do not want to play mind games too early, although they seem to want to start."

Benitez bemoaned the failure of club co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. to offer him a new contract. His present deal expires in 18 months.

When talks began in November, Benitez wanted the new contract finalized by the end of the month to avoid anything distracting the team from its title bid.

However, negotiations were inevitably delayed after Benitez had to undergo surgery to remove kidney stones, followed by a two-week recovery.

"My agent has not yet received any documents, and he is a little disappointed," Benitez said. "But OK, we will see what happens. But I do not want to say too much at the moment."