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Ferguson tells Mourinho to "button his lip"

Sir Alex Ferguson has told Jose Mourinho to "button his lip" for the rest of the season after the Chelsea manager's claim that Manchester United have benefited from dubious refereeing decisions.

Mourinho claimed this week that United's bid to reclaim the Premiership and advance in the Champions League had been helped by a combination of good luck and controversial refereeing displays, particularly in the victories over Tottenham Hotspur and Lille.

"He's come out with stuff this week about us and we expected that." Ferguson said. "He's been talking about referees and I think he is the last person who should talk about referees. Goodness me! His football club have been involved in so many things with referees over the years. It seems to me that if you contest something and they don't get their own way, there's something happens whether it is referees or players threatened or something like that.

"It's an incredible club that. So I think he should button his lip now for good for the rest of the season. There's plenty of talk about Chelsea and referees and Jose and referees. I have a big catalogue on it but I'll leave that for another day."

Ferguson also delivered a harsh condemnation of Chelsea's role in the 20-man brawl that marred the end of last weekend's League Cup final with Arsenal, which led to three players being sent off. "It was obviously a London derby, maybe there is a bit of feeling between the two clubs and maybe it spilled over but it was surprising," he said. "But I think the clubs have to hold their hands up. We've had to do it ourselves, we're not exempt. Over the years there have been situations we've had to control and we've had some feisty players ourselves.

"And there are emotional players and very, very competitive players and fortunately in the English game that is a good thing to see players who want to win. But there are situations when you don't want to go over the mark."

Ferguson believes the outburst from Mourinho and similar comments from some of his players are simply attempts by Chelsea to unsettle his side, who can go 12 points clear in the Premiership if they win at Liverpool this weekend: "I think we can expect a lot of them to have something to say. Claude Makelele has had something to say, Michael Ballack's had something to say this week which is good. We have probably tried these things ourselves in the past. They can try and attack us, they are entitled to their opinions and I have no problem with that but I think we have some answers. And maybe it's just beginning."

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will miss the trip to Anfield with a knee problem, but Ferguson insisted United will not sit back and defend against a Liverpool side who haven't lost at home for 30 Premiership matches. "It's a game that can shape the title," he said. "The important thing is to go there and express ourselves as we have done all season. And these are the characteristics we take into the game.

"The important thing is to try to win the game and we won't be relying on defending and hoping for a breakaway. We have got where are by playing that way and we will carry on in that way."