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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Connor Dunn

Luis Garcia explains how Rafa Benitez is really feeling ahead of Newcastle clash with Liverpool

Liverpool face Newcastle in the penultimate game of their Premier League season.

It's been an incredible journey for the Reds that has seen them switch position at the head of the table with defending champions Manchester City on so many occasions and now with two games left there is just one point separating the teams.

Jurgen Klopp has led his side to an incredible 91 points while Pep Guardiola has seen his men accrue 92 and it all comes down to the final two games.

And this weekend both Liverpool and City face former Reds managers with Rafa Benitez in charge at Newcastle while Brendan Rodgers is at the helm of Leicester City who will take his side to the Etihad on Monday.

Rafa is adored at Anfield and is fondly remembered for his exploits both on and off the pitch during his six-year tenure, which included the famous 2005 Champions League win in Istanbul plus a European Super Cup in the same year and then the FA Cup in 2006.

The Magpies manager himself recently admitted the encounter is simply 'a game he cannot win' and now one of his former players who was a major part of the trophy-winning teams under Benitez at Liverpool has revealed how he will be feeling.

"To be honest Rafa is a Red and I'm sure that he will be checking, following and supporting the team," Garcia told the ECHO.

"However, he is struggling this year to get consistent and positive results and even though they got away from the relegation zone they are are still needing to win points.

"And at the end of the day Rafa is a winner and now this game has arrived he will do whatever it takes to try and win the game - unfortunately for us."

Rafa Benitez sends 'very clear' title race message ahead of Newcastle against Liverpool

Garcia also gave his verdict on the Premier League title battle and outlined where he believes it will be won and lost.

"The battle between Manchester City and Liverpool has gone exactly as expected," he said.

"The two teams are winning everything and honestly it's going to be the one that drops points doesn't win the trophy.

Brendan Rodgers sends title message to Liverpool ahead of Manchester City against Leicester

"City just look very strong, it doesn't matter what team they are playing and the way they or that team are playing they still get the results at the end.

"But it is the same with Liverpool too and you can really enjoy the games because they are fantastic up front and solid at the back.

"It looks like the league will be decided in the final game.

"It is important though to go game by game and you cannot look further forward than the next game in hand because then you might make a few bad mistakes or have a bad moment and you'll throw away all the work you have done this season."

*Luis Garcia was speaking as part of a GambleAware campaign called Bet Regret which aims to prevent people gambling impulsively and raise self-reflection about their gambling behaviour.

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