They were comments that smacked of rank hypocrisy from Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock.
Over a decade on from the start of his long-running feud with Rafa Benitez for the former Liverpool manager's apparent lack of concern for Sheffield United, Warnock was threatening to turn the tables.
Warnock, whose ire at a supposedly 'weakened' Benitez team at Fulham in 2007 took years to subside, was more than hinting at fielding his lesser-lights at Manchester City on Wednesday night.
After Sunday's defeat Chelsea was inflicted largely by a shocking blunder from the officials at the Cardiff City Stadium, Warnock fumed : "I think we can keep the score down at Man City, I think we can keep it to single figures.
"But I might play the reserves down there, it’ll be interesting to see what the journalists think of that."
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Thankfully, for Liverpool supporters, Warnock has since backtracked on plans to cut off his nose to spite his face as he desperately attempts to keep the Bluebirds in the Premier League.
“I won’t field a weakened side against Liverpool, don’t worry, and I’ll make sure my lads are right up for this one,” Warnock said.
“We haven’t got enough (under-23s) and none of the lads want to travel! So I’ve got to stick to the first team."
Wales Online have now reported the 'probable' lineup for Cardiff's trip to City with three changes from the side that were undeservedly beaten by Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.
And it looks as though Warnock's tweaks include the return of influential midfielder Joe Ralls, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and centre-back Greg Cunningham.
Anything other than a win for City on Wednesday night preserves Liverpool's lead at the top of the Premier League ahead of the Reds' trip to Southampton on Friday night.
Cardiff probable lineup: Etheridge; Peltier, Manga, Morrison, Cunningham; Ralls, Camarasa, Arter; Mendez-Laing, Hoilett, Niasse.
