Rafael Benitez won't be at Newcastle for long, says Jamie Carragher

Jamie Carragher believes Rafa Benitez will not be in charge at Newcastle for a sustained period of time.

The Sky Sports pundit played for the Spaniard at Liverpool between 2004 and 2010 - winning the Champions League in 2005 and the FA Cup in 2006 - but he does not expect him to spend a similarly long spell at St James' Park.

Benitez took over at Newcastle in 2016 and guided them to promotion from the Championship last season, but Carragher believes a fractured relationship with owner Mike Ashley over transfers could result in him walking away.

He told Monday Night Football: "If I'm being totally honest, I don't expect to see Rafa Benitez at Newcastle over a sustained, long period of time.

"I think eventually something will happen with him and the owner and unfortunately for Newcastle this is not going to be a happy and long marriage.

"So enjoy it while he's here."

Newcastle host Liverpool on Super Sunday this weekend and Carragher expects them to avoid relegation this season.

However, while he is backing his former manager to keep them up he says a top-half finish will be difficult given the lack of investment in the squad.

He said: "You can't turn Newcastle into a force if you're buying players like Joselu, who was a squad player at Stoke who Newcastle are probably going to rival this season, maybe in the bottom half of the table.

"I don't think there's any chance of Newcastle going down, just because of the manager. He is very pragmatic and he'll make it very difficult.

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley could be the reason Benitez leaves, says Carragher

"I don't think Liverpool have got an easy game going to St James' at the weekend. You saw how they were against Tottenham before they went down to 10 men.

"In every game Newcastle have, you'll very rarely see them lose 4-0 or 5-0, as you might see teams in the bottom half of the table.

"I think that's where Newcastle will be, but I don't expect to see them in a relegation fight."