Alan Pardew can expect a hot reception on Saturday afternoon when he takes charge of his first match at St James' Park since leaving Newcastle United for Crystal Palace.
Pardew still polarises opinion on Tyneside, where locals will be willing his team of FA Cup finalists to offer Rafael Benítez’ side a Premier League lifeline by losing.
In an apparent attempt to provoke Palace's players, Sam Allardyce – whose Sunderland team are vying with Newcastle and Norwich to avoid relegation – claimed the London club's squad would have celebrated reaching Wembley by "going on the pop" this week.
Benítez remained unruffled by Allardyce’s additional suggestions that Pardew’s focus would not be on today’s game and that Palace’s players may pull out of tackles in order to avoid injury.
“I don’t take much notice of mind games,” said the Spaniard, whose side are 19th and a point behind 17th-placed Sunderland, who have a game in hand. “But I’m sure Palace’s players will be thinking about the final. It’s normal. Players are thinking if they pick up an injury they can’t play at Wembley, so it’s in the back of their heads. Some will only play in one final, so it’s the opportunity of their lives.”
Newcastle fans are understood to be planning to chant the names of Hatem Ben Arfa – their former favourite who, although ostracised by Pardew, is now flourishing at Nice – and Jonás Gutiérrez. The Argentinian winger recently won a disability discrimination claim against his old club, where he believes he was mistreated by Palace's current manager.
Benítez was asked if he feared such anti-Pardew choruses could prove detrimental to Newcastle.
“I will not waste too much time with these things, they can do what they want but our supporters are clever and they know the main thing is to support the team,” he said. “This is one where they may have feelings beforehand but, during the game, I think it will be much better if everybody just focuses on getting behind the players and helping them.”
Pledged to fight
Meanwhile,
Liverpool
manager Jürgen Klopp has pledged to fight the club’s corner in any future issues with kick-off times after admitting he could not believe Sunday’s match at Swansea starts at noon.
The team returned home from Spain at 4am on Friday after the 1-0 Europa League semi-final defeat to Villarreal with their Premier League game in south Wales scheduled to kick off just 56 hours later.
Klopp made jokes about the English liking their Sunday lunch but he is less than impressed with the amount of time he has to prepare.
“Sunday at 12 o’clock, I can’t believe that,” said the German. “I think no one in this room thinks it is usual after the games we’ve had that we should start at 12. I am not sure who made the decision but we can’t change it.” Guardian Service
