He added: “The last time one of the big four didn’t finish in the top four it was Liverpool – Everton got that spot – and I think this time it looks pretty difficult having lost against Wigan.

“They are having to rely on other teams slipping up now.

“They have a wealth of experience and that may be a telling factor when the nerve ends start jangling. We saw what happened to Tottenham a few years ago with the famous ’poisoned lasagne’ scenario – which was obviously never the case – and they let it slip.

“But I think it might be more difficult for Liverpool this time around because there are more teams involved. There’s Manchester City, Aston Villa and Tottenham in there and if Everton keep rolling on you might be surprised to see them making a late run.”

Benitez had pointed the finger at Blackburn’s uncompromising style saying: “I think it is a model for all the managers around the world, their style of football, his (Allardyce’s) behaviour. The style of football I think Barcelona are thinking of copying.”

Allardyce insists however that this shows he has won the psychological battle.

He said: “You do it to try to get your team in a position to get a result. Personal criticism is not the road I go down, and I don’t personally criticise Rafa Benitez but I clearly get under his skin and that can be a benefit to my side when we play them.”

Meanwhile, Vince Grella will miss Blackburn’s Premier League match at Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow due to a calf injury picked up in training but David Dunn is available after coming through a reserve match without any problems.