BBC pundit Garth Crooks insists Newcastle United can still be ‘title contenders’ under Rafael Benitez despite a run of form that has seen them go without a win in six top flight games.
The Magpies have lost five of their past half-dozen fixtures, the most recent defeat coming at Stamford Bridge courtesy of an Eden Hazard masterclass who scored twice as Chelsea emerged as 3-1 victors.
The defeat leaves Newcastle 15th in the table and only five points above the relegation zone, however Crooks stands by his statements made earlier in the year in which he claims Benitez could guide his side to unlikely Premier League glory.
“I was almost laughed out of BBC’s Final Score studio when I insisted that, given the right resources, Benitez could turn Newcastle into title contenders.” said Crooks.
“Why the comment was greeted with such bewilderment, I have no idea. Anyone who knows anything about football should know that Benitez has done it before at Valencia.
“If he can stop football giants like Barcelona and Real Madrid from winning the title, he can certainly do it against both Manchester clubs.”
