Didier vows revenge over Rafa's diving slur

Angry Didier Drogba has promised to make Rafa Benitez pay tonight after the Liverpool manager accused him of diving.

Benitez followed up his revelations at the weekend that he had compiled a dossier over the last four years of the Chelsea striker's tendency to win free-kicks by insisting that he "falls down too easily".

That has infuriated Drogba, who said: "Benitez was a manager I respected a lot. Until now, I found him not only one of great competence, but great class. In the end, he has disappointed me terribly. His words demonstrate weakness.

"A great manager would never attack a player in such a low manner. Let him concentrate on his own team's game and, if he wants me not to fall down, let him tell his defenders to stop kicking me. [Jamie] Carragher and [Martin] Skrtel never stopped in the first game. I finished the match with bruises everywhere.

"This is unworthy of him. He should know this will have no hold on me. If I fall, I will always get up. I am going to give him the best reply on the pitch."

Chelsea boss Avram Grant has defended his man ahead of tonight's game and said: " I don't think Drogba is a diver at all. I think Rafa is trying to affect the referee."