Chelsea’s Benítez won’t have divided loyalties at Liverpool, says Dalglish

Kenny Dalglish has rubbished the suggestion Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benítez could have divided loyalties when he returns to Liverpool on Sunday.

The Spaniard, who guided the Reds to the Champions League and FA Cup during his six-year tenure, will return to Anfield for the first time after being sacked by the Merseyside outfit in June 2010.

Benítez has endured a frosty reign at Stamford Bridge after replacing Roberto Di Matteo on a temporary basis in November, but Dalglish is confident all emotions will be cast aside come kick-off.

“Rafa will get a warm reception from the home fans, who still love him for everything he achieved at their club,” Dalglish wrote in his Daily Mirror column.

“And when he gets to the ground, I’m sure he will remember all the fantastic times he had there when he was manager. But the idea that, as the Chelsea manager, he will somehow have some divided loyalties is fanciful and misguided.”

He added: “For the Liverpool supporters, it will be the same. They will give Rafa a fantastic round of applause, but then they will show the same respect for their own manager.

“And when the match begins, they will forget about their affection for Rafa for 90 minutes just as he will be locked in the game, trying to get a win for Chelsea.”