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Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez reveals how to beat Jurgen Klopp’s side


Rafael Benitez has a plan to deal with Liverpool (Picture: Getty Images)

Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has unveiled his blueprint of how to deal with the Reds, although he admits that it is no easy task for any team.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are 25 points clear at the top of the Premier League, winning 25 and drawing one of their 26 matches so far this season.

They return to Champions League action away to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday as they continue their quest to retain the title they won in June last year by beating Tottenham in Madrid.

Benitez took on Klopp’s outfit when he was in charge of Newcastle, and knows just how good they are, but believes there is a best way to deal with them.

The Dalian Yifang manager told the Athletic: ‘When our Newcastle United team played Liverpool, our quick players weren’t faster than theirs were, so in the end the only way to get something from the game is to be really solid.

‘The problem is that you cannot keep this solidity up forever if they are on top of you all the time.

‘Defending for 90 minutes is impossible, so you have to try to create something on the counter-attack, to be a threat, to give them something to be more worried about.

‘You have to try and get away from their pressing. To beat Liverpool or [Manchester] City you need speed and skill in the wide areas up front; if not, it just comes down to passing the ball — you will not be better than them at that, and they will usually be faster and stronger than you.’

Liverpool have been beaten this season, by another of Benitez’s former sides Napoli, in the group stage of the Champions League.

Goals from Dries Mertens and Fernando Llorente gave the Italians a 2-0 win in September, although the Reds’ only defeat since came in the Carabao Cup against Aston Villa when no first team players were involved.

Whether Atletico can replicate Napoli or employ Benitez’s plan is yet to be seen as they are enduring a difficult season in La Liga, especially in terms of scoring goals.

Diego Simeone has had a frustrating time as Atletico Madrid boss (Picture: Getty Images)

Diego Simeone’s side have scored just 25 goals in 24 league games and may struggle to offer the threat to Liverpool that Benitez insists is needed for success.

Simeone admits that he is a big fan of Klopp’s side ahead of their first meeting in Madrid this week: ‘I have no doubt that that as we look back across all those years [of football] Liverpool will have their place in history, for certain.

‘They have qualities, characteristics, that are different to all those teams we have admired: they’re much more direct, much more intense, have much more variety. I feel a great admiration for them.’

Liverpool go to the Spanish capital on Tuesday night before hosting Simeone’s men on 11 March.

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