Former Liverpool and Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness has tipped Magpies boss Rafael Benitez to potentially break the hearts of his old side as they chase down the Premier League title this season.
The Reds are in a fierce battle with Manchester City at the top of the table, the lead swapping hands nearly every weekend as they both continue to win their games.
With Liverpool set to visit St James’ Park in their final run of games, Souness has tipped the “very good” Benitez to cause the Reds serious problems with his tactical play, believing it could be where the Reds lose their title hopes.
He told Sky Sports: The dangerous one for Liverpool is Newcastle away. The way Rafa Benitez sets his team out, he is quite happy to sit back, absorb pressure and then catch them on the break. Tactically he is very good, and the supporters will be right up for that game.
“The games that I think will decide the league are Liverpool at Newcastle and City at Old Trafford.”
Opinion
With Newcastle United all but safe in the Premier League now, could Benitez actually do the Reds a favour when they visit Tyneside. You know that the Spaniard would love to see Liverpool pick up their first ever Premier League title ahead of Manchester City, with the strong relationship between the manager and the Anfield faithful still very much intact. However, he is also a professional and so you can see where Souness is coming from. The only club that matters in his mind is the Magpies and with a raucous St James’ Park – which is always the case when Liverpool come to visit – behind him and his team, Jurgen Klopp’s men face a tough task trying to break the north east outfit down. Benitez is a defensive minded coach and that could end up frustrating the likes of Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, while Newcastle have also proven that they can snatch the all important goal which can seal victory. Could Benitez dash the hopes of Liverpool? He might never be forgiven on Merseyside if he did – but he has a job to do at Newcastle.
