RED BENITEZ CAN NEVER WIN OVER THE EVERTON FANS

RAFA BENITEZ will never win over the Everton fans because of his Liverpool connections.

That is the stark warning from Manchester United legend Patrice Evra, who claims Benitez was “courageous” for taking the job in the first place.

The Toffees boss already finds himself under pressure and their great rivals Liverpool could turn up the heat even further tonight by winning the Merseyside derby.

Evra, talking ahead of Amazon’s round of Premier

League fixtures, even recalled a story of how Sir Alex Ferguson insisted on a Manchester City logo being covered up before agreeing to sit down.

Evra (right) said: “I think Benitez is a courageous man. Seriously. I couldn’t believe it until I saw it that he’s the manager of Everton. I don’t know what kind of reception he’ll have because he did such a great job for Liverpool.

“I’m worried for him.

Suddenly when one thing goes wrong, the fans are going to say, ‘Of course, he was Liverpool manager’. So it took a lot of courage to take the job.

“I could never see Sir Alex Ferguson taking a Champions League job. He went to a stadium to watch a game and asked them to cover the seat because there was a City logo. I was there. It’s a true story. So I was surprised when Benitez took the job.”

Benitez won the Champions League for Liverpool in 2005, but put his reputation on the line by taking over at Goodison Park in the summer.

Ex-arsenal striker Thierry

Henry shared Evra’s view and insisted that some divides are too big to cross.

Henry added: “I agree with Patrice about being brave taking the job. Other managers have done that.

“Jose Mourinho went to Tottenham. We all know Chelsea don’t like Tottenham.”

Henry laughed at the prospect of him one day becoming Spurs boss and added: “What?! That would never happen. Never in a million years. Even in a dream.”