Allardyce 'humiliated' by Rafa gesture

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Allardyce has reviewed footage of the incident several times after initially witnessing it following Liverpool's second goal last Saturday, and he insists the gesticulations following Fernando Torres' 33rd-minute header were directed towards him and his team.

"I think if everybody has a look back at his gestures you will see them as pretty dismissive to me and the Blackburn Rovers team as a whole," fumed Allardyce. "I was hugely disappointed by those gestures. I think they were disrespectful and quite humiliating."

Allardyce's understanding is that Benitez crossed his arms over dismissively as if to suggest 'that's it, game over, job done'.

The Rovers boss also believes Benitez showed a further lack of respect by not showing up in his own office for a post-match drink, leaving Allardyce seeking an explanation.

He added: "Having looked at them again this week, I think I'm right and everybody will see why I'm complaining.

"The feeling was that he had written us off. It was open arms and then a crossover of the arms as if to suggest that was it.

"I admit it was a hard game, a difficult game for us, and we were well beaten by an outstanding Liverpool side. But in terms of respect, you don't expect those sort of things to happen in a game of football. I was very, very upset by it.

"The game is hard enough as it is without a fellow manager doing what seemed to be an undermining gesture.

"I then waited to have a word with him after the game in his room, but as usual and unfortunately, he didn't turn up. Not explaining himself by not turning up in his office really shows what he is like."