Brendan Rodgers: Rafael Benítez deserves a great welcome at Anfield

Brendan Rodgers believes Rafael Benítez deserves a “great welcome” from Liverpool supporters when the Spaniard returns to the Anfield dugout as Chelsea boss on Sunday.

The former Reds manager admitted it will be an “emotional” return to club he led to Champions League and FA Cup glory during his six years in charge on Merseyside between 2004 and 2010.

And Rodgers, who has been at the Anfield helm since last May, insists the former Valencia coach will be fully deserving of the the warm reception he is widely expected to receive this weekend.

“Rafael Benítez will deserve a great welcome when he comes back,” said Rodgers. “He won the European Cup here, which is a great achievement.

“It won’t be strange for me. This is a club where the supporters are very respectful when former players and managers return.

“They still sing Kenny Dalglish’s name – and rightly so – because he is a legend here as a player and a manager.

“They sing about other players and I’m sure Rafael Benítez will get a great reception.”

The Northern Irishman added: “There is no question he is a fantastic manager but I had confidence from the owners when I came in here that this process was going to take time.

“It wasn’t going to be instant and the owners have never wavered from that.”