Moyes full of respect for rival Benitez

When David Moyes and Rafa Benitez were battling it out for Merseyside supremacy, it was the Liverpool manager who led the head-to-head eight-three.

Now the pair find themselves as rivals in the North East but a league match-up between the old rivals is at least 12 months away after Newcastle’s relegation to the Championship.

Despite the delay, Sunderland’s new manager has already been facing questions about the fierce rivalry between the managers who are local rivals once again.

“We’ve been against each other quite a lot,” said Moyes.

“Rafa had a great team at Liverpool of Mascherano, Alonso, Torres, Gerrard, Carragher, Reina etc – it was some team – but we were always competing and trying to challenge them.

(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

“I think Rafa is a really good football man who has deservedly managed big clubs.

“We’ve had our ups and downs, but I respect him because of what he has done in football.”

Both managers have had their fair share of jobs since their Merseyside days with Benitez managing at Inter, Chelsea, Napoli and Real Madrid before arriving at St James’ Park.

Moyes left Everton to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United but was sacked later the same season and took the manager’s job at Real Sociedad.

His first competitive match in charge of Sunderland is away at Manchester City on August 13.