Rafael Benítez v Sir Alex Ferguson – in pictures

20 September 2004, Man Utd 2-1 Liverpool, Premier League The two managers first face off at Old Trafford, when a brace from Mikaël Silvestre, which sandwiched an own goal from John O'Shea, gave United a 2-1 win. Hostilities were minimal in the early years, but by 2008 Benitez's patience with his opposite number had worn thin and the public spats began Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

23 March 2008, Manchester United 3-0 Liverpool, Old Trafford, Premier League On the face of it the result looks routine for United but it was far from it. Benítez was clearly incensed at Javier Mascherano's 44th minute dismissal for dissent which turned the game on its head and signalled the start of a fractious relationship between the two managers. Benítez called the decision 'unbelievable' and claimed that there was no point talking to the referee as he would receive 'no answer', a surreptitious hint to the influence he believes Ferguson wields Photograph: Tom Purslow/Man Utd via Getty Images

13 September 2008, Liverpool 2-1 Man Utd, Anfield, Premier League Four years after joining Liverpool, Benítez finally grabbed his first league win over United with a deserved victory. Carlos Tevez gave United an early lead before a Wes Brown own goal and a late Ryan Babel strike sealed all three points. For once the two managers agreed that the result was a fair reflection, with Fergie saying that his side were 'bossed out of the game' Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

5 January 2009 With Liverpool sitting top of the league at Christmas, Ferguson was keen to begin the psychological warfare early, and struck the first blow when he claimed that Liverpool's inexperience could 'undo their title challenge' Photograph: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

9 January 2009 Responding to Ferguson, Benítez had his 'Keegan moment' as he burst into an impromptu tirade against the United boss, reading various 'facts' he had meticulously planned. The Spaniard accused Sir Alex of being a 'hypocrite', of 'killing referees' and claimed that he was 'nervous of Liverpool being top of the league”'in one of the most astonishing rants that English football has seen. Fact Photograph: Guardian

12 January 2009 In United's first match since the 'fact' episode, a 3-0 win over Chelsea, Ferguson accused Benítez of being an 'angry man', talking with 'venom' and dismissed the rant as 'absolutely ridiculous' Photograph: Matthew Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images

12 January 2009 Benítez publicly questioned David Gill's dual role at the FA and Man Utd. 'I don't think it's a mind game when you have control over everything and your chief executive is on a lot of committees at the FA. To me that is very strange,' he said Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

14 March 2009, Man Utd 1-4 Liverpool, Old Trafford, Premier League The two managers met for the first time since 'fact-gate' and the whole world was expecting fireworks. Typically after waiting four years for his first victory over United, two came along at once for Benítez after his side secured the league double over their foes in remarkable fashion. Ferguson was clearly irked at the final whistle and it seemed at the time that Benítez had outwitted the master Photograph: Tom Purslow/Man Utd via Getty Images

17 April 2009 After Benitez had famously labelled Everton a 'small club', Ferguson was quick to leap to the defence of his compatriot and good friend, David Moyes. 'Everton are a big club, irrespective of what Rafa Benítez says, which just points to his arrogance,' he said. Fergsuon wasn't finished. Referring to an apparent gesture made by Benítez to then Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce during a 2-0 Liverpool win, Ferguson accused the Spaniard of 'complete contempt' and acting in a way that 'any other Liverpool manager wouldn't have' Photograph: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Sunday 25 October 2009, Liverpool 2-0 Man Utd, Anfield, Premier League Despite falling agonisingly short in the 2008-09 title race, Benitez was keen to secure his third consecutive win against Ferguson. Coming into the game on the back of their worst sequence of results since 1987, Liverpool weren't fancied but were aided by a Nemanja Vidic red card as goals from Fernando Torres and David Ngog gave the home team victory and stopped United going top Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images

21 March 2010, Man Utd 2-1 Liverpool, Old Trafford, Premier League The most recent clash between Ferguson and Benítez resulted in victory for the Scot, ending a streak of three straight league defeats against Liverpool. Torres gave Liverpool a shock early lead but they were powerless to resist as United took control and grabbed their goals through Rooney and Park Ji-Sung. Ferguson couldn't hide his delight at the final whistle with an enthusiastic fist pump and the two managers parted ways with a reluctant handshake Photograph: Matthew Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images

23 November 2012 Benítez's three-year break from English football did little to cool relations between the two men and less than 24 hours after the Spaniard was named Chelsea manager, the two were at it again. Ferguson said: 'Benítez is very lucky because on his CV in two weeks' time he could have two world championships to his name and has had nothing to do with the construction of the teams.' Benítez responded immediately implying that he had little respect for Ferguson: 'I like to respect people, but sometimes I cannot because they push you,' he said Photograph: AFP/AFP/Getty Images

22 January 2013 Four years after the 'facts' press conference, it seemed that Benítez's animosity hadn't dwindled. 'What I said at that time was what I thought and what I'm seeing now is similar. I will not talk to much about it because it's obvious,' said Benítez of Ferguson's influence on referees Photograph: ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images