Wenger shocked by Benitez outburst

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger tonight expressed his “surprise” after Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez claimed his Manchester United counterpart Alex Ferguson had openly criticised referees and got away with it.

The Reds boss hit out yesterday at what he saw as Ferguson’s complete ignorance of the Football Association’s ’Respect’ campaign towards officials, and complaints by the United boss about the Premier League fixture list.