IT'S time somebody told Liverpool and Wanderers to draw a line under all this silly ill-feeling that has developed between them.

But it's not going to be me because I'm loving it.

Every time Rafael Benitez opens his mouth to complain about bullying Bolton' it sparks a fresh round of arguments among fans, players and managers.

And let's face it, banter and good old-fashioned rivalry is what this great game of football is all about.

Gordon Strachan said it was unusual that Celtic Park was so quiet on Tuesday and Liverpool fans have launched a Reclaim the Kop' campaign to try and get a bit of noise going again inside Anfield while all around the country grounds are turning into libraries.

So when all the passion is being stripped out of the game it makes a pleasant change to have something to get steamed up about.

And that's exactly what has been created between Liverpool and Wanderers. It started with Benitez taking issue with what he saw as Wanderers' over-physical style in beating his side at the Reebok.

And the Spaniard has gone on to launch further and increasingly scathing insults about Wanderers' tactics, including both before and after the game between the two sides on Monday.

His latest argument against Sam Allardyce's side was a classic. For some reason he argued that Wanderers' tactics wouldn't be allowed in the Spanish League which begged the reply that they don't play in the Spanish League and probably never will, although the name Bolton Wanderosos has a certain ring to it.

By showing how much Wanderers have got to him, Benitez has given Wanderers a certain credibility and his regular outbursts have turned him into a target for humorous chants by Bolton fans who regard him as a tantrum-prone figure of fun who is there to be wound up.

Hence the two loudest songs of the day from the away end on Monday - "You're just a fat Spanish waiter" and "Get your belly off the pitch".

Even Steven Gerrard got in on the act of putting Wanderers down in the matchday programme when he said Wanderers try to bully teams every week and cannot play football as well as Liverpool and that Liverpool should be taking six points off Bolton every season.

That's bound to be remembered and replied to with a bevvy of boos the next time the Liverpool captain comes to the Reebok when MBE is likely to stand for More Bolton Earache.

But it's his boss who will be singled out for most attention whether he continues his recent form of previewing every match against Bolton with a bitter attack or not.

And I, for one, can't wait. And I thank Rafa for bringing two vital ingredients which are so sadly lacking in football these days - spice and banter.