“I was hugely disappointed by those gestures. I think they were disrespectful and quite humiliating.

“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.

“The only people I saw were Sammy Lee and a few of the staff, but he never showed his face.

“That was just as disappointing as the gesture, and it typifies the man.”

However, Allardyce admitted he made no effort to contact Benitez this week to clarify the matter, and said: “Why should I? If he can’t come into his own room and have a drink with his fellow manager, why would I want to pick up the phone and speak to him?

“I gave him the opportunity by being courteous enough after being beaten 4-0 to go and have a drink in his room.

“There was no need for those sorts of gestures, and my opinion as to whether I’m right is obviously going to be speculated upon by other people, but I think I’m right.

“He would have had the opportunity to have explained himself if he had turned up in his room, but didn’t, so that’s why I’m talking about it today.”