Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has refused to bite back at Blackburn counterpart Sam Allardyce's latest jibe at him.

The spat between the pair has been running for a long time and after Benitez mocked Allardyce's behaviour and Blackburn's style after their match at Anfield last month the Rovers boss responded in kind on Thursday.

Allardyce suggested Benitez's criticism of him is a cover-up for how bad Liverpool are, claiming the Reds have all but blown their chance of finishing in the top four.

But after the 1-0 Europa League defeat in Lille the Liverpool boss said he did not want to give Allardyce any more publicity.

"Who?" was his initial, half-joking, response when asked about Allardyce's latest comments.

"No comment. No publicity for him."

Allardyce admitted there is ill-feeling between the two but blamed Benitez for making things "personal".

"It was a good cover-up by Rafa because he knows how bad his side were and that was repeated against Wigan on Monday night," said the Rovers boss.

"He's got personal with it for many, many years now. That's why I don't like him and the feeling is probably mutual.

"I don't get personal with him; I get into him and under his skin, yes, but that's all part of the game.

"The tit for tat between me and Rafa will probably go on until one of us is no longer a Premier League manager.

"I've managed to psyche out one or two here and there and that's how the Premiership has evolved over the last 20 years."

Allardyce also believes Liverpool's result at Wigan leaves Benitez's side unlikely to finish fourth and qualify for the Champions League.

He added: "The last time one of the big four didn't finish in the top four it was Liverpool - Everton got that spot - and I think this time it looks pretty difficult having lost against Wigan.

"They are having to rely on other teams slipping up now.

"They have a wealth of experience and that may be a telling factor when the nerve ends start jangling.

"We saw what happened to Tottenham a few years ago with the famous 'poisoned lasagne' scenario - which was obviously never the case - and they let it slip.

"But I think it might be more difficult for Liverpool this time around because there are more teams involved.

"There's Manchester City, Aston Villa and Tottenham in there and if Everton keep rolling on you might be surprised to see them making a late run."

After the victory over Blackburn at Anfield Benitez had pointed the finger at Rovers' uncompromising style saying: "I think it is a model for all the managers around the world, their style of football, his [Allardyce's] behaviour.

"The style of football I think Barcelona are thinking of copying."

Allardyce insists however that this shows he has won the psychological battle.

He said: "You do it to try to get your team in a position to get a result.

"Personal criticism is not the road I go down, and I don't personally criticise Rafa Benitez but I clearly get under his skin and that can be a benefit to my side when we play them."