Baby's birth meant more than football, says Xabi

The Spain midfielder was at home on Merseyside with his girlfriend Nagore last week as Rafael Benitez's team knocked out the Italian League leaders at San Siro.

Alonso, 26, offered to fly to Italy on the morning of the game but was told to stay away by manager Benitez, prompting speculation that there may be a rift developing between the two Spaniards.

But speaking as he prepared for Sunday's Barclays Premier League game with Manchester United at Old Trafford, Alonso said: "I will always accept the orders of my coach and I don't think that anyone can question my professionalism. But there are occasions in life when some things take priority over sport and that was definitely one of them.

"I know I was criticised but it's over. For me that is forgotten now.

"I was convinced we would win in the San Siro anyway as in the Champions League we always seem to be a different team from how we are in the League at home.

"I have a contract until 2012 and I'm quite satisfied about my future."

Alonso's season has been interrupted by a foot injury and he has not always been a first pick for Benitez as the campaign reaches its final moments in Europe and at home.

But he hopes to face United for a game that he feels could be pivotal to Liverpool's season.

Benitez's team have gone on an impressive winning run since being knocked out of the FA Cup by Barnsley last month and Alonso said: "Now we are entering the decisive moments of the season. To be champions is difficult but not impossible. We are developing a sensational run and we have not given up on anything.

"Our match against United is key. A victory at Old Trafford would open up our chances for the end of season and it would be a big blow in the Premier League for United.

"For Liverpool it is one of the most important matches of the season.

"Our objective is to go to Manchester and win and it would not surprise me if we did. We are playing our best football of the season."

With Liverpool 11 points behind United, it appears inevitable that the team from Anfield will have to wait another year at least for their first Premier League title.

Knowing that a Champions League quarter-final tussle with Arsenal waits round the corner, Benitez's team could be forgiven for concentrating on Europe.

But Alonso added: "Nobody in the squad is thinking about Arsenal and the Champions League.

"We're only thinking about Manchester United and the League. After that there will be plenty of time to think about the Arsenal tie.

"To me the Premier League is a race and we desire more. To be in the fourth position is not sufficient for Liverpool."

Benitez has called for referee Steve Bennett to forget about any special treatment for Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo on Sunday. And the Spanish boss insists he has no special plans for the Portuguese forward.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson made another plea for Ronaldo to be protected before he took his goals tally this season to 33 with his winning double against Bolton on Wednesday.

Benitez said: "Ferguson is clever, that is clear. After a difficult game he was talking about referees and before an important game he is talking about protecting Ronaldo.

"The referees, though, have experience and they will know Ferguson. Treatment must be the same for all the teams and all the players.

"If you need to protect Ronaldo, you also need to protect Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard and all the skilful players in the League.

"I just want to go into the game with the same situation as the other team."

Asked if stopping Ronaldo would be the key on Sunday, Benitez said: "Maybe stopping Torres! No, they have a lot of good players, so it will be difficult if you just think about Ronaldo. We have to think about all of them. I think he's in form but Torres is, too."

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand missed training yesterday and is struggling to make Sunday's match after missing the champions' last two games with a back injury.

But his central defensive partner Nemanja Vidic is expected to recover from a nose injury suffered in the win against Bolton.