Football: Benitez: I'm ready for Old Trafford baptism; MANCHESTER UNITED v LIVERPOOL, MONDAY, 8 PM Quiet man Rafael plots downfall of old-stager Fergie.

Byline: PAUL WALKER

RAFAEL BENITEZ compares facing Manchester United with the red-hot tension he used to experience in Spain when his Valencia, champions twice in three years, faced the might of Real Madrid.

The new Liverpool chief also knows full well that his honeymoon in the Premiership will be finally over the moment he confronts Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford on Monday.

Benitez realises his new-look Liverpool must deliver in one of English football's greatest collisions, especially given the club's excellent recent record against Ferguson's men, the now departed Danny Murphy making a habit of scoring winners against United.

And the midfielder's penalty gave Gerard Houllier's men a 1-0 victory last season.

But the Spanish coach, who has been boosted by successive victories in the league and Champions League in the past week against West Brom and Monaco, is trying hard not to get swept away in the hype and hysteria that this showdown produces.

And he says: ``I know that everyone is now saying that this game with Manchester United is the biggest for me so far.

``All I hope is that in the future people are asking me the same question about other matches because that will mean we are doing well and challenging for the title.

``But now I know this is very important.

``We have won in the Champions League and we now face a big club with great players and a great manager. Obviously we want to do well. ''

Benitez added: ``It is similar for me to facing Barcelona or Real Madrid while I was with Valencia. It is a similar rivalry.

``I want to win and we will try to do that.

``If it is against a big club, that is better for us.

``It is important not to increase the pressure. Everyone needs to relax and the manager needs to be calm and quiet to plan and prepare properly.

``I am looking forward to it.

``I enjoy the atmosphere at English grounds. The fans are excited. They shout at each other but at the end they walk out together. ``It is not always like that in Spain. '' But even from the safer distance of his old home on the Mediterranean, Benitez was aware what this tribal clash means to both sets of supporters.

He said: ``I know it is a big game for the supporters, but to win titles you have to play well against big teams in the league and the Champions League, and I would prefer to be quiet beforehand because the professionals have to control the situation.

``Over the last three or four years for me, games with Real Madrid were similar to what I expect this game with Manchester United to be like. In Spain it is only really like this when Real Madrid play Barcelona or maybe Atletico Madrid play Real.

``But Madrid against Valencia is similar. The atmosphere around the game is wonderful, and sometimes the referee is the most important person on the pitch.

He continued that he hopes his career with Liverpool will one day match that of his opponent at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson.

``I know Sir Alex is a great manager and you talk of Ferguson and Manchester United in the same breath, as you do with Wenger and Arsenal.

``Maybe one day it will be Benitez and Liverpool in a similar way. I hope so, '' Benitez said.

``All I want is three points. Whether it is in a big stadium against a big club or a small ground with a small club, it is still the same points to be won.

``But we all do know that this is a big stadium, a big and great club and it is very, very important to our supporters. ''