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Rafa Benitez is back in the Premier League with Newcastle but what is his record against the current crop of managers? The Spaniard was appointed Newcastle boss on Friday after Steve McClaren was finally relieved of his duties and is tasked with steering the second-bottom Magpies to safety.It will be no easy initiation for Benitez, with league leaders Leicester up first in Monday Night Football, but Newcastle fans with one eye on Sundays Sky Live derby clash with bitter rivals Sunderland may take hope from their new managers previous against Black Cats boss Sam Allardyce. Benitez has claimed seven wins from 12 matches against Allardyce - giving him a win percentage of almost 60 per cent.That ratio is only marginally bettered by his record against a previous Newcastle manager in Alan Pardew - and Pardews Crystal Palace visit Tyneside at the end of April in what could be another crunch clash in Benitezs bid to keep his new club in the top flight. Benitez record against current PL managers Opp Manager Played Won Drawn Lost Win Percentage Alan Pardew 5 3 1 1 60% Arsene Wenger 13 4 4 5 30.8% Mark Hughes 11 4 6 1 36.4% Mauricio Pochettino 1 0 0 1 0% Sam Allardyce 12 7 2 3 58.3% Tony Pulis 5 2 3 0 40% Improving an already striking win ratio against Allardyce would likely give Benitez, as well as the long-suffering Toon Army, satisfaction because its fair to say the pair dont see eye-to-eye.Their feud started when the then-Liverpool boss was critical of Allardyces Bolton and their physical playing style - a sentiment that did not sit well.Rafa would be very lucky to be in a job if he hadnt got to two Champions League finals, because theyve had some very poor finishes in the Premier League, Allardyce was quoted as saying in a magazine interview in September 2007, after he had left Bolton to take the Newcastle job. Allardyce (right) and his Bolton side earned criticism from Rafa While they are a very good Champions League team, theyre not a Premier League-winning side. They dont have the mentality to win that yet.Things came to a head, after several other spats, in 2010, following another victory for Benitez - Liverpools 2-1 success over Blackburn at Anfield. Benitez PL record v Allardyce Date & venue Benitez team Score Allardyce team 29/08/04, Reebok Stadium Liverpool 0-1 Bolton 02/04/05, Anfield Liverpool 1-0 Bolton 02/01/06, Reebok Stadium Liverpool 2-2 Bolton 09/04/06, Anfield Liverpool 1-0 Bolton 30/08/06, Reebok Stadium Liverpool 0-2 Bolton 01/01/07, Anfield Liverpool 3-0 Bolton 24/11/07, St James Park Liverpool 3-0 Newcastle 11/04/09, Anfield Liverpool 4-0 Blackburn 05/12/09, Ewood Park Liverpool 0-0 Blackburn 28/02/10, Anfield Liverpool 2-1 Blackburn 01/12/12, Upton Park Chelsea 1-3 West Ham 17/05/13, Stamford Bridge Chelsea 2-0 West Ham I think he is a model for all the managers all around the world, jibed Benitez. His style of football, his behaviour, everything.He is the perfect role model for all the kids. I am sure parents will enjoy this model and encourage their kids to be the same. I also think Barcelona are trying to copy his style of football.Allardyce responded - and didnt hold back. Alan Pardew (left) hasnt had much joy against Benitez It was a good cover-up by Rafa because he knows how bad his side were, Allardyce said.Hes got personal with it for many, many years now - thats why I dont like him and the feeling is probably mutual.Allardyce later wrote in his book: Of course, he can say he won the Champions League with Liverpool, which is something I never did. But it has nowt to do with him. Watch Benitezs first game back in the Premier League live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7pm on Monday. Or watch for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV. Also See: Redknapps title race view Do late sackings work? The relegation run-in Five challenges facing Benitez Jarrad Davis Youth Jersey .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. 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NEW YORK -- Stan Wawrinka was about 2 1/2 hours removed from winning the U.S. Open for his third major championship when he was presented with a question he probably was figuring would be coming.The gist: After adding this trophy to those from the Australian Open in 2014, and the French Open in 2015, is it time to focus on completing a career Grand Slam by winning Wimbledon in 2017?Wawrinka ran his left hand through his hair, rubbed his eyes and smiled.So what? Are you saying next year I focus only on Wimbledon? There is no plan. The only plan is trying to push myself the maximum to be the best player I can, Wawrinka said Sunday night. Im not good enough to start and say, `OK, Im going to win a Grand Slam this year. No.Well, actually, Stan, you sure seem to be at this point. And that 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 victory over No. 1-ranked and defending champion Novak Djokovic in the U.S. Open final on Sunday night was only the latest evidence.Wawrinka might have won a French Open junior title as a teenager, but it sure took him a while to show that sort of talent at the elite level. So long in the shadow of his Swiss countryman and close friend Roger Federer, Wawrinka did not reach a Grand Slam semifinal until age 28, in his 35th appearance at one of his sports four most prestigious events.Now, though, Wawrinka has won three majors over the past three seasons, pulling even with Andy Murray. Since the 2005 French Open, Federer, Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have won 39 of 47 Grand Slam trophies. Only Wawrinka and Murray also have multiple titles in that span.So its clear that the third-ranked Wawrinka now must be seen among the cream of the crop in mens tennis and a threat at all big tournaments moving forward. He is, after all, 3-0 in major finals, and has won 11 consecutive finals overall.He hits a very heavy ball, especially from the backhand corner. Forehand is very flat. You know, he goes for his shots from the forehand side. Backhand, you know, great chip, great slice. He uses that when hes defending and then he comes up and can get you off the court with a backhand crosscourt. Thats probably one of the best shots in the game, Djokovic said. Physically, hes very strong, so he can endure a lot.Wawrinka has never made it past the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, and lost in the second round thhere this year to the resurgent Juan Martin del Potro.ddddddddddddSo what about Wimbledon? What might he be able to do there? He added 1996 champion Richard Krajicek as a coaching consultant on grass this season to help with volleying, so he is definitely interested in improving at the All England Club.Im trying. Im trying every year to improve. Im trying every year to find solutions, Wawrinka said. I didnt play my best tennis yet there. Hopefully it will come.Here is what else we learned during the 2016 U.S. Open:KERBER IS NO. 1: It becomes official on Monday when the new WTA rankings are released, but Angelique Kerber clinched her debut at No. 1 after the U.S. Open semifinals, then showed its definitely justified by winning her second Grand Slam title of the season. The 28-year-old German had never been so much as a finalist at a major until this season, but made three such runs, winning the Australian Open and finishing as the runner-up at Wimbledon, before dropping only one set at Flushing Meadows. Once known mainly as a counter-puncher, Kerber has become more aggressive during points, became more dedicated to raising her fitness, and worked with a mental coach to rise to the top. At 28, she is the oldest woman to reach No. 1, but her skills and stamina could keep her in the mix for a while.SERENA WILLIAMS: There was a lot of speculation about whether there is a changing of the guard in womens tennis, now that Serena Williams record-tying 186-week streak at No. 1 is over after a semifinal loss to Karolina Pliskova. Williams turns 35 this month, so some are ready to write her off. Not so fast. Dont forget that she has fared no worse than the semifinals at each of the past nine majors, including a Wimbledon title and two runner-up finishes this year.FEDERER AND NADAL: After ruling tennis for so long, Federer and Nadal didnt win a major title in 2015 or 2016, and neither was a factor at Flushing Meadows (Nadal lost in the fourth round; Federer missed the tournament while he rehabs his surgically repaired left knee). Federer is 35; Nadal is 30 and injured more often than not lately.---Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich ' ' '