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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Stephen Killen

Former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez fails to recreate 'magic trick' in awkward Sky Sports stunt

Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez tried to recreate the viral Sky Sports graphic 'magic trick' after Liverpool beat Newcastle United - but it did not go to plan.

The Spaniard was a pundit as part of the broadcaster's coverage of the Reds' trip to St James' Park. He watched on as Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo ended a run of three straight Premier League away defeats as Nick Pope was sent off for a moment of madness where he handled the ball as Mohamed Salah raced through.

Benitez enjoyed time in the North East after his spell at Anfield where he helped the Magpies return to the Premier League under former own Mike Ashley.

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As the modern social media era has evolved, viral clips have become standard on platforms. As a result, the former Liverpool and Everton manager found himself in the spotlight for a historic clip, highlighted by Soccer AM.

During his time at Anfield, the camera panned to the tactician and while he gives out instructions, his hand movement depicts a magic trick as the graphic simultaneously appears.

On Saturday night, fellow pundit Jamie Redknapp and presenter Kelly Cates were in the studio alongside the 62-year-old. With Benitez's rare punditry appearance on Sky Sports, they couldn't resist the opportunity to remake the clip.

However, it went hilariously wrong and to make matters worse, he failed two more times.

He has been out of the dugout since he was sacked by the Blues after six-and-a-half months. But he has hinted at his hopes of returning to the hotseat. He said: "I said so many times, it depends.

"You need a project. I was lucky enough to manage a lot of teams and of course I did that, won some trophies, and I can say now ‘I don’t like this project, I like this one.’

"My problem is that I am fine and happy in England in terms of the Premier League, my family and everything, so sometimes you make decisions that are a risk, but the reality is that the Premier League is the best league now in the world and I want to be around Europe.

"I have things [offers] in China or South Korea or in Mexico, things like that, but you need a project with all the experience I have - my stats is quite good on these things - so we can build something.

"I was talking about projects, but a project now is three weeks, so it’s not three years. Three weeks and you are under pressure. We need some time and the right project."

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