Rafa Benitez keen to take advantage of short Liverpool 'blanket' as Newcastle boss identifies defensive fragility

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Rafael Benitez will send Newcastle into battle with former club Liverpool hoping to take advantage of their 'short blanket'.

The 57-year-old Spaniard enjoyed six years at the Anfield helm and won four trophies, including the Champions League, before his departure.

He is now engaged in a very different project at St James' Park, having dragged the Magpies back into the Premier League, but still has a soft spot for his first English club.

Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez is planning to expose Liverpool's defensive weakness on Sunday

Jurgen Klopp's Reds will travel to Tyneside on the back of a frustrating midweek trip to Russia

Benitez admits he is very wary of the attacking prowess available to opposite number Jurgen Klopp, but is keeping his fingers crossed that Liverpool's proactive approach may expose their defensive frailties when they head to Tyneside on Sunday.

He said: 'The reality is that because they are so offensive, they have sometimes problems in defence.

'I have talked in the past about the short blanket - if you cover your head, your feet are cold; if you cover your feet, your head is cold. Sometimes when you attack too much, you are exposed in defence and to find the balance is the key to have chances to win titles.

'I think they are working on that and still I think they will be very dangerous attacking even if they make some mistakes in defence.'

Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Spartak Moscow means they are without a clean sheet in six games

Liverpool's defensive problems are no secret. They've conceded 20 goals in 11 games this term

Benitez is still regarded as a hero on Merseyside for what the club achieved during his tenure, and he is currently building a similar relationship on Tyneside.

However, he insists there will be no divided loyalties this weekend.

He said: 'It's a special game for me. It will be emotional because I had so many years, so many good memories. Still my family lives in Liverpool, so it's my home.

'I am feeling at home here, but the family is there. I have a lot of positive relationships with the fans, so I have very good memories and it will be very emotional.

'But at the same time, we'll try our best and we will try to win.'

Benitez believes Liverpool struggle at the back because of their commitment to attacking

He referenced a short blanket as he explained: 'If you cover your head, your feet are cold'

Benitez sees parallels between the two clubs and cities in which they reside, but he admits to one common problem.

He said: 'The fans are very passionate and they follow the team they support the team even when things are wrong, so they are very similar.

'The cities are also cities of people who work very hard and they know what it means to work very hard. There is massive support for the team, big stadiums with all the fans behind singing all the time, so they are very similar.

'But the accent is hard for me, the Scouse accent and the Geordie accent. That's very similar too.'

Benitez will be 'emotional' managing against his former club but is focusing on the job in hand

Newcastle held Liverpool to a 2-2 draw at Anfield the last time these sides met in April 2016