Benítez spent six years in the Anfield dugout between 2004 and 2010, famously guiding the Reds to a fifth Champions League title in his first campaign in charge, as well as the FA Cup the following season.
The Spaniard also presided over a concerted title challenge during the 2008/09 campaign, where Liverpool just missed out to Manchester United.
And though he has already come across the Reds once since his appointment as Newcastle boss in March 2016, Benítez acknowledges that Sunday’s meeting is likely to stir up a whole host of feelings.
“Obviously, it’s a special game for me,” he said. “It will be emotional, because I spent so many years there, and have so many good memories. My family still live in Liverpool, so it is my home. I feel like I have a home here, but my family are there. I have a lot of positive, very good relationships with Liverpool fans, (including) the families connected to Hillsborough. There are a lot of connections, and it will be very emotional.
“But, for me, I have to concentrate on Newcastle United, trying to win. There are a lot of similarities between the two clubs and the cities. The fans are very passionate – they follow the team and they support the team, even when things are wrong. The two cities are cities of people who work very hard, and know what it means to work very hard. There is massive support for both teams – both have big stadiums, with all the fans behind, singing all the time. So, they are very similar.”
Jürgen Klopp’s Reds sit on the fringes of the Champions League places ahead of their trip to Tyneside, but have conceded more goals than any other team in the top half.
However, they have had little trouble at the opposite end of the pitch, a point acknowledged by Benítez.
“People say they are weak in defence, but they are so strong in attack that they can score goals in any game,” he said. “They have a lot of chances in every game, and the main thing for us is to try and be solid – not giving them the chance to create so many.
“The reality is, because they are so offensive, they sometimes have problems in defence. I have talked in the past about the ‘short blanket’ – if you cover your head, you have your feet cold, but if you cover your feet, you have your head cold. Sometimes, when you attack so much, you are exposed in defence. To find the balance is key if you want to have chances to win titles. I think they are working on that, and they will still be very dangerous going forward, even if they make some mistakes in defence.”
