BELIEVE everything Neil Warnock says, and Rafael Benitez has been given no option but to pop down to the local supermarket to stock up this week.

Warnock, the perennial Liverpool detractor whose name provides football’s most appropriate anagram, remains furious at the Spaniard’s decision to field an under-strength team last season at Fulham, the club owned by Harrods proprietor Mohamed Al Fayed.

Driven by the comical notion Liverpool’s defeat that afternoon was solely responsible for his subsequent failure to guide Sheffield United clear of relegation, Warnock greeted the news that Benitez was again considering another weakened line-up at Craven Cottage on Saturday with trademark class.

“Integrity, doing what is right for the game, comes way down Rafa’s list of priorities,” droned the now Crystal Palace manager. “I hope Liverpool never win another trophy under Benitez. Maybe Rafa gets a yearly hamper from Harrods for his team selections.”

However, the only thing likely to be in the post after an easy Liverpool victory is the solicitors letter winging its way to Warnock himself.

Benitez’s largely second-string side moved to within a point of clinching fourth place and Champions League qualification while hammering a significant nail in the coffin of Fulham’s Premier League fate.

And with it came the added bonus of making Warnock appear even more deluded than before, should that actually be possible.

As 12 months ago, Liverpool travelled to the Thames with the Champions League weighing heavily on the mind.

But while their last trip to Fulham ended in that controversial 1-0 defeat just days after they had reached their Athens date with Milan, the ease at which they sauntered to an 11th win in their last 14 games, and their first triumph in the capital in eight visits, underlines the greater strength in depth at Benitez’s disposal this season.

While five of the starters last May have since departed – three never playing another game for the club – Liverpool took to the field on Saturday with 10 internationals in their first XI.

Only four are expected to start in tomorrow night’s first leg at Anfield. And with the rest desperate to impress, it was somehow apt they were watched from the Press box by a contestant from last year’s series of The Apprentice.

No-one will be getting fired on the strength of this performance.

Even without the talismanic duo of Steven Gerrard, absent with a neck injury, and Fernando Torres, an unused substitute, Liverpool exposed the gulf in class between the teams and illustrated the confidence oozing through the whole squad at present.

Jermaine Pennant, the one starter without national team honours, had most reason to be encouraged.

The winger disappointed in his last outing as part of a similarly experimental team that earned a 1-1 draw at Arsenal a fortnight earlier.

Pennant has endured an indifferent campaign, hampered by injury and inconsistent form even before Benitez’s change in tactics further lessened his first-team opportunities.

And while it may not prove enough to spare him a summer exit, Pennant at least grasped the nettle on Saturday with an impressive display as Liverpool’s most dangerous attacker.

There was even the rare sight of a goal, Pennant netting only the third of his Anfield career in the 17th minute with a blistering drive inside Fulham goalkeeper Kasey Keller’s near-post after nipping behind Brede Hangeland on to Lucas Leiva’s pass.

Pennant then turned provider 20 minutes from time with a pass that split Fulham’s centre-back pairing of Hangeland and Aaron Hughes and gave Peter Crouch the chance to fire in straight through Keller.

It was Crouch’s second goal in successive league starts and another reminder to Benitez of his value to the team, although the bench seems his most likely place tomorrow evening.

Fulham, perhaps gambling the England man was one player certain to start on Saturday, had clearly prepared accordingly but ultimately couldn’t contain the striker.

Crouch had Liverpool’s first chance early on, heading wide a Pennant cross at the far post, and was later close to connecting to a dangerous low ball from the same player.

Of the other fringe players, Steve Finnan and John Arne Riise were defensively solid, Andriy Voronin was at his brightest for some time while a busy Yossi Benayoun was only denied a goal by a fine block from Fulham left-back Paul Stalteri after a probing run by Lucas.

Roy Hodgson’s Fulham were not found wanting for effort and began the game brightly, but they are heading for the drop on this form, their endeavours were soon overwhelmed as Liverpool’s passing game clicked into gear.

Hangeland sent a header wide and Brian McBride fluffed his volley from a long Keller punt before the break, but Pepe Reina had to wait until the 75th minute to make his first real save when denying former Liverpool player Danny Murphy after Xabi Alonso, just on from the bench, lost possession.

Reina’s clean sheet was his 16th of the Premier League campaign with no team having conceded fewer goals than Liverpool on their top-flight travels.

Indeed, Liverpool’s main threat on the afternoon was that of injury.

Sami Hyypia skippered the side on his 300th league appearance but was substituted at half-time after taking a blow to the head.

But the Finland international should be fine for Chelsea along with Javier Mascherano, who hobbled off soon after a late tackle by David Healy after being left nursing a sore knee when clattered by his own player Lucas.

Perhaps the Brazilian fancies a game tomorrow.

If the likes of Warnock and Gary Megson were up in arms before Saturday, their reaction could well be apoplectic next weekend.

Liverpool visit another struggling side, Birmingham City, right in the middle of their two blockbusting encounters with Chelsea.

And with fourth position almost virtually assured, don’t be surprised to see Charles Itandje, Damien Plessis, Emiliano Insua and maybe more youngsters step out at St Andrew’s.

That, though, can wait. Long before the final whistle at Fulham, thoughts were already turning to their West London neighbours – and the chance to make a bitter man choke on more of his words.