Rafa Benitez hits back at Steven Gerrard by claiming his 'dislike' revelation is only an attempt to sell more copies of his new book

Gerrard felt that Benitez never warmed to him at Anfield but Benitez has told his former captain that 'he is wrong'

Rafa Benitez has hit back at Steven Gerrard after criticism in his new book (Getty Images)

Rafa Benitez has responded to Steven Gerrard's revelation in his new autobiography that the Spaniard never liked him by telling his former captain he is wrong.

Gerrard didn’t hold back when it came to Benitez, who he also blamed for the departure of Xabi Alonso, and revealed in his new book My Story – which is being serialised by the Daily Mail – that he always felt Benitez favoured his Spanish-speaking team-mates during his time at Liverpool.

The former Liverpool captain’s annoyance stems back to when Benitez first met Gerrard’s mother, with one of the first questions he asked being “Does Steven like money?”

However, Benitez has hit back immediately and while he was determined not to criticise his former captain, he did suggest that Gerrard’s comments are merely a bid to try and shift more copies of his book off the shelves.

Interestingly, Benitez also called him “Stevie”, something that Gerrard has said the manager never used in the changing room as he always addressed him by his surname.

“I have read the quotes and I believe he is wrong,” Benitez told Spanish media ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Gerrard faced former foe Didier Drogba in the MLS on Saturday night (Getty Images)

“Out of the respect that I have for Stevie and for the value and appreciation I have for him, and for Liverpool and the supporters, I think it's best to just let it pass.

“He has brought out a book and now I'm the Real Madrid manager, that sells.”