Former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez ‘backs Reds’ to win their first-ever Premier League title

Former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has backed Jurgen Klopp’s men to end the club’s 30-year wait and win their first-ever Premier League title this season.

The Reds have been in scintillating form this campaign so far winning 15 games and drawing one out of 16 and are 8 points clear of second-place Leicester City.

Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City are way back in third place, 14 points adrift of rivals Liverpool, with Pep Guardiola’s side surprisingly struggling this campaign despite the squad’s unbelievable talent and depth.

Benitez, who was in charge of Liverpool‘s iconic 2005 Champions League victory, was a pundit on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football and stated that he doesn’t believe that Klopp’s men will lose many games this season.

The Spaniard also praised Liverpool’s work in the transfer market over the last couple of years and their ability to find the right balance in their squad.

The former Newcastle United boss played against the Reds last season and called back on his experience in setting his team up against Liverpool.

He said that he set his side up to get in behind the Liverpool defence and try and counter-attack them but his side failed to create any chances. Benitez cited the reason for that is because the Liverpool defenders were too quick.

Benitez is one of the rare Liverpool managers to have led Liverpool to a second-place finish in the Premier League era which happened back in 2009 – only three other managers have equalled that achievement.

The Reds were able to pull away from title rivals Manchester City as they were able to ease past Bournemouth in a 3-0 win thanks to goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and Mohamed Salah.

The Citizens also dropped points on the weekend as arch-nemesis Manchester United outclassed them in a 2-1 win.

Despite Leicester also winning on the weekend, Liverpool’s odds of winning the Premier League shortened as the bookies have them 1/7 to lift the trophy.

Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola’s side’s odds of lifting their third successive league title drifted to 8/1.

Former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, who also led the Reds to a second-place finish during his time in Merseyside, has been doing great work with Leicester so far.

His side’s odds of repeating Leicester’s incredible Premier League win in 2016 look unlikely despite their current good form according to the bookmakers. They have Leicester 14/1 to win the league.

With Liverpool only dropping points against rivals Manchester United in the league so far, it looks unlikely that they will let their grip on the league slip.