It was interesting to read that Rafael Benítez enjoyed a meal with Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer shortly after being appointed manager at St James’ Park.

Presumably, Shearer didn’t talk tactics, given the striker’s hapless effort to keep the club up in 2009; a hero-worship experiment even less effective than Fabricio Coloccini’s barber.

Instead, the meeting spoke of a city impressed, and a little surprised, to have landed a manager with a proven record of winning the occasional football match.

Even Shearer, a man not used to deference when it comes to Newcastle United, is clearly buoyed and willing to offer his advice on how to win over the city’s understandably fed-up fans.

Whatever you think of his preference for zonal marking, Benítez is an organiser, a man who likes structure in his teams and someone also likely to enforce detention for those unwilling to adhere to the Rafa Rulebook.

That approach was never going to work at Real Madrid, where head boy Ronaldo preens and poses (and scores, to be fair) and Karim Benzema is too busy, allegedly, dealing with sex tapes. First World problems, eh?

But at Newcastle, the class is in disarray after a spell in which Steve McClaren carried all the authority of a supply teacher dodging paper clips while insisting everyone analyse a Hamlet soliloquy.

Benítez will bring order, that’s what he likes, and if he can marshal a derby win at home to Sunderland on Sunday, he’ll have the Geordie faithful behind him for the rest of the season.

Noon kick-offs unless stated

Tomorrow’s games

Everton v Arsenal

9.45am

When Arsenal beat Everton 2-1 in the corresponding fixture this season, they went to the top of the league for the first time since February 2014 and fans dared to believe, only for that Groundhog Day feeling to now return as they slip farther behind leaders Leicester City (11 points with a game in hand).

Arsenal travel to Goodison Park on the back of an expected defeat by Barcelona in Europe and one win in eight, but Everton’s home record this season is poor. On the plus side, Romelu Lukaku looks fearsome right now and could destroy a brittle Arsenal back line.

Prediction: 2-2

Chelsea v West Ham United

Chelsea, who will be without Diego Costa, have drawn five of their past six home matches in the league and their season is effectively over after their Champions League and FA Cup exits. West Ham have failed to score in their past four visits to Stamford Bridge, but their season is riding the crest of a wave and they hammered Chelsea 3-0 at Upton Park. West Ham to deliver; Chelsea to start planning for next season, with Antonio Conte at the helm.

Prediction: 1-2

Crystal Palace v Leicester

Palace are eight points from the drop and without a league win in 2016 — their descent has been dramatic. Leicester are dealing well with the growing pressure and dug out a good win at home to Newcastle on Monday night.

This one could be anxious, with both sides fretting for very different reasons. Claudio Ranieri’s side, though, have shown they are much better equipped to rise to the occasion.

Prediction: 0-1

Watford v Stoke City

Watford will be high on confidence after booking an FA Cup semi-final spot and a trip to Wembley. Stoke, on the other hand, are drifting somewhat. A score draw.

Prediction: 1-1

West Brom v Norwich City

Tony Pulis is reeling this week from a court order that means he has to pay back Crystal Palace his £2 million bonus for keeping them up, plus more than £1 million in fines and court costs. Needless to say, Pulis will be furious and ready to head-butt anyone in the vicinity (stay away, James Beattie). That all doesn’t bode well for Norwich, who are in desperate need of points the bottom three.

Prediction: 2-1

Swansea City v Aston Villa

2.30pm

Not a lot more to say about Villa, who have essentially given up and lost their past five games. Swansea have probably ground out enough points to survive and this is the perfect opportunity to reinforce that.

Prediction: 2-0

Sunday’s games

Newcastle v Sunderland

10.30am

Benítez and Sam Allardyce are sure to share a warm embrace and a pre-match huddle of mutual respect. NOT! This is going to be a fierce encounter on and off the pitch. So much is at stake here beyond the local bragging rights and defeat for either side would be a huge blow to their survival hopes. Odds-on a couple of red cards.

Prediction: 2-1

Southampton v Liverpool

10.30am

Liverpool have recorded three straight league wins for the first time this season, but will have to shake last night’s Europa League match against Manchester United out of their system. Seven points off the Champions League places with a game in hand, there’s still a sniff of a chance for Jürgen Klopp’s side, but nothing more.

Prediction: 1-2

Manchester City v Manchester United

1pm

It’s a sad state of affairs in Manchester that the derby does not feel like the headline act this weekend. City will be without Vincent Kompany again through injury, as their season, domestically at least, peters out.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side have a poor record against fellow top-four teams and this looks like a chance for Louis van Gaal to earn some much needed goodwill among the red half of the city.

Prediction: 1-2

Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth

1pm

Three wins on the bounce for Bournemouth, who have impressed hugely and are surely safe from the drop with 38 points under their belt.

But Spurs are such an efficient outfit and, having basically thrown away the prospect of Europa League progress, their focus is very much on a title charge.

Harry Kane, remarkably, remains full of energy and they look poised to heap pressure on Leicester.

Prediction: 2-0