RYDER’S BET

RAFA Benitez refused to guarantee Jonjo Shelvey will start in Newcastle United’s clash with Liverpool tomorrow.

The midfielder had a positive impact after coming off the bench against Brighton.

But Benitez is still pondering whether to break up the partnership between Isaac Hayden and Mikel Merino, a combination that performed well together during Newcastle’s recent winning run.

Benitez said: “You always have to find the balance between your attack and your defence. That’s what we are trying to do.

“We know that Jonjo is a great player in a game if he is doing well it means the team is playing well. He will have a chance to impress.

“Whether it is from the bench or from the beginning, or even this game I won’t give any clues anyone but he is an important player for us.”

Newcastle dropped down to 10th spot after losing to Brighton, but even a point would take them to double figures early in the season.

That would provide United with a quarter of the points tally they will need to survive at the end of the season.

But Benitez is keen to reach the magic 40-point mark through wins, not draws.

He added: “We are always trying to win. I am thinking about nothing else but trying to get three points, it depends how the game is going.

“Maybe one point is good enough but at the beginning we will try for three points.” Both teams to score at 4/6.