Kop icon Jamie Carragher believes Rafa Benitez will want to stop Jurgen Klopp from succeeding where he fell short during his Liverpool reign.
The Reds travel to St James' Park to face Rafa Benitez sends 'very clear' title race message ahead of Newcastle against Liverpool Newcastle United on Saturday night needing maximum points in order to keep their title dream alive.
The Spaniard, whose Liverpool side finished second in the Premier League in 2009, still has a strong bond with the club he served for six years.
Rafa Benitez sends 'very clear' title race message ahead of Newcastle against Liverpool
However, Carragher insists Benitez will have designs on returning to Anfield for a second spell in charge in the future and being the man who ends the club's long wait for the title.
“I played six years under Rafa at Anfield and know how ambitious he is,” Carragher wrote in his Telegraph column.
“He has not given up on returning to the highest level. In a season in which Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino have been lauded, Benitez will be frustrated he has not had the same resources to challenge on a level playing field.
“I am not sure Rafa will particularly want Klopp to win the title. Not because of any bitterness, but because deep down he will harbour ambitions of going back to Anfield one day and becoming the manager to end the Premier League drought.
“Games such as this offer an opportunity to show how - when it comes to tactics - he remains one of the best.
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"He will be working overtime to organise his team to make life as difficult as possible for Liverpool.
“Benitez will sit deep, challenge Liverpool to get beyond his back five and seek to play on the counter-attack.
“There will be no favours offered, nor any expected. Liverpool have had to earn every point this season and it will be no different on Saturday night.”
