Benitez determined to avoid another FA Cup humiliation

RAFAEL BENITEZ’S first brush with the FA Cup produced humiliation and the wrath of his newly-adopted home but the Spaniard insists it will be different the second time around.

Mention Burnley to the Liverpool manager and he manages a weak smile no doubt caused by the memory of the mauling he received for what was perceived was an insult to the most famous cup competition in the world.

No amount of insisting he had not intentionally devalued the competition by fielding a weakened side in a painful 1-0 third-round defeat at Turf Moor last season allowed him an escape from the criticism.