Benitez Warns Liverpool Not To Expect Any Favours From Newcastle

By Max Wise

Newcastle United manager, Rafael Benitez, has warned Liverpool not to expect any favours when the two clubs meet in the Premier League on Saturday.

Newcastle United have already secured their top flight status for another season but Benitez is in no mood to hand his former employers an advantage in the title race.

Liverpool’s cat-and-mouse race with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table looks set to go down to the final day of the season in one of the most enthralling title chases of all-time.

The lead at the top of the table has already changed thirty times this season, and Liverpool, who are second on the table with 91 points, could finish the season on 97 points without winning the league - the most by a runner up in the history of the Premier League.

Rafael Benitez spent six seasons in charge of Liverpool between 2004 and 2010, leading them to win the Champions League in 2005 and the FA Cup a year later, but the Spaniard could not bring the Premier League title to Anfield.

Many are of the view that Benitez’s past affiliation with Liverpool could hand the Reds an advantage, but the former Real Madrid and Inter Milan manager has dismissed such prospects.

"We will do what we have done the whole season and that's try to win the game," he said.

"We play at home in front of our own fans and we will try to do our best. We will be professionals.

"You have to remember that all the teams have 38 games to do what they want to do.

"It's my responsibility to look after Newcastle and if I was on the other side I would be expecting the opposition to do their best and the manager to try his best."