Southampton play host to Newcastle United tomorrow in the Premier League.
Newcastle have begun their 2017/18 Premier League campaign in mixed fashion, with three wins, three defeats and a draw from their opening seven league games, and they currently find themselves in ninth position in the table, three places and two points ahead of tomorrow’s opponents.
A trip to St Mary’s is never easy, but Benitez highlighted a reason why Sunday’s game could be made all the harder, when speaking to reporters, as quoted by the Northern Echo:
“He was my player in Valencia for two years, and I brought him to England (to Liverpool) to help with the defence. After that, he was my assistant in Italy. He went to Argentina, and last year he was in Alaves and doing well. He is someone who has always been focused and worked hard. He likes football and likes to study and learn. He knows everything about me because he was my player and assistant. That gives him an advantage, but at the same time we know him really well too.”
Pellegrino himself has earned mixed reviews during his time in charge on the south coast thus far, with his team chalking up just two victories from their opening seven league outings.
Tomorrow’s game should be an evenly balanced contest, however, and Southampton could jump above Newcastle in the table with a win.
The Magpies, on the other hand, could move five points clear of the Saints if they take all three points away from St Mary’s.
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