Monday 14 March 2016 19:17, UK
Jamie Carragher believes Newcastle have recruited a top manager in Rafa Benitez but expects them to face a tough night against Leicester.
The former Liverpool boss is preparing for his first game in charge - against the leaders on Monday Night Football - after taking over from the sacked Steve McClaren.
Carragher, who played under Benitez for six years at Anfield, told Sky Sports News HQ that Newcastle have got a top boss at the helm, although he did admit the Spaniard faces a different challenge on Tyneside.
"It was a decision [Newcastle] had to make," said Carragher. "They had to change something and as we've said before you can't get rid of your players. I think if some clubs could they would, because they've got a lot of poor players in that squad, that's why they're down there.
"In Rafa Benitez, they have one of the best managers out there who they could get. I don't think they could get anyone better with the CV he has, but he hasn't managed with that sort of level of player for a long time.
"Ten or 12 years he's been at the top, which is credit to him but you'd have to go back to his early days in Spain when he was getting teams promoted and relegated. So I think it will be slightly different for him."
Newcastle have conceded 53 goals so far this season, the fourth most of any team in the Premier League, but Carragher has backed Benitez to sort out their struggling defence.
"He'll be very organised, you'll see that between now and the end of the season," added Carragher. "You may not see it tomorrow night [against Leicester] as he's only had a couple days training but as the weeks go on I think you'll see a lot more defensive organisation from Newcastle. I think they'll be a lot more difficult to beat.
"The quality of player they have there they shouldn't be fighting relegation or be second bottom of the league. They're certainly not a top eight team, which was a requirement of Steve McClaren - there was no chance of that.
"But they've got better quality than where they should be and Benitez will be hoping to bring that out in the next 10 games."
While Carragher believes Newcastle have enough to stay up under Benitez, he also thinks Sunderland could edge the battle for survival due to boss Sam Allardyce's experience in a relegation scrap.
"I think they've got enough to stay up but it looks like a straight shootout between Sunderland with Sam Allardyce and Norwich, who have just gone above them.
"I'd favour Sunderland just because Allardyce has more experience at that end of the table and dealing with that level of player," Carragher added.
Leicester thumped Newcastle 3-0 at St James' Park in November, and Carragher believes Benitez's side have a tough trip ahead of them on Monday Night Football.
"It will be very difficult. [Leicester] have only lost three games this season and whoever they've come up against they've had answers," he said.
"The plan has got to be to stop Leicester's counter-attack. It's what they've been famous for this season with the pace of [Riyad] Mahrez and [Jamie] Vardy. So you'd expect Newcastle to play deep and counter themselves.
"Benitez will be aware of what they're about, he'll be aware of their strengths and weaknesses and it will be whether they can carry out his plan."
