Rafa not one to dwell

In six years on Merseyside, Benitez helped Liverpool to the 2005 Champions League in his first season, the FA Cup, the Community Shield and European Super Cup, while the Reds finished second in the Premier League in 2008-09.

He declined the opportunity to assess the Reds since his departure in June 2010 or to talk about events at Anfield ahead of his first return as an opposing manager.

“I’m the Chelsea manager and I want to get three points,” said Benitez, who declined to reveal whether he was a candidate to succeed Kenny Dalglish last summer, when incumbent Brendan Rodgers was appointed.

“I cannot change the past. I’m really proud.

“The rivalry and all these things... I can understand now, but it’s very clear: I have to concentrate on football, on games.

“My commitment is with Chelsea and I will use common sense and do what I have to do, concentrate on games, try to get three points.

“Afterwards, I will wish the best to Liverpool, because it was six very good years there.”

Asked about the prospect of a warm reception from Liverpool’s supporters, Benitez said: “I will try to concentrate as much as I can on events on the pitch.

“If you can be successful with any team, I’m sure that the fans will appreciate that.”

Chelsea captain John Terry was an adversary while Benitez was at Liverpool, but now the pair are allies, with the same ambitions as the Blues go in search of back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time since December.

Terry suffered a knee injury in the reverse fixture in November and has been a less-than central figure since his January return.

The defender backed the need for rotation this week, while insisting he is ready, willing and able to play more than once a week.

Benitez dismissed suggestions of a fall-out and would not entertain the theory the Chelsea hierarchy have told him to show the Blues support that success is possible without Terry and Frank Lampard.

“My commitment with Chelsea is to win every game,” Benitez said. “I pick the team trying to win every single game.”

Meanwhile, Terry’s simmering resentment towards the FA saw the Chelsea captain snub the governing body’s chairman David Bernstein’s attempt to shake hands at yesterday’s Champions League trophy handover.

Bernstein stripped Terry of the England captaincy after he was charged with racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand. Terry was cleared at Westminster Magistrates Court of making a racist insult to Ferdinand, but was charged by the FA and banned for four matches.

Terry said: “Listen, it’s a difficult one for me. Obviously he was the one who spoke about me in the court case and said things. I don’t want to talk on air. It’s probably a subject that we should maybe just avoid.”

Asked if he shook Bernstein’s hand, Terry replied: “No.”

The FA chairman himself insisted he was unaware of the Chelsea player’s snub. “I didn’t notice anything,” said Bernstein.

“My relationships with everyone here are really fantastic.”