'Rivalries are there for a reason': Steven Gerrard admits he was shocked his former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez took over at Everton last summer, insisting it 'doesn't make sense' to take charge of a bitter enemy

Steven Gerrard takes on old foes Everton today insisting he could never follow Rafael Benitez by crossing the divide between the bitter Mersey rivals.

Benitez was sacked by Everton this after barely six months in charge, meaning there will be no reunion of the manager and captain who led Liverpool to Champions League glory in Istanbul in 2005.

Instead Gerrard’s Aston Villa will meet a team managed by Duncan Ferguson, but Gerrard remains baffled that Benitez – who won four trophies in six years as Anfield boss – had opted to join Everton at all.