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Phil Thompson: Liverpool need more crosses to get best out of Christian Benteke

Christian Benteke vies for the ball against Russell Martin
Image: Christian Benteke vies for the ball against Russell Martin

Liverpool legend Phil Thompson has urged his former club to utilise Christian Benteke better and cross the ball more often.

Sunday's 1-0 victory over Swansea was just Liverpool's third Premier League home win this season and their first in three attempts under Jurgen Klopp.

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The Reds also have a negative goal difference at Anfield after scoring just eight times, a contrast to their impressive away form which has seen them beat Chelsea 3-1 and Manchester City 4-1 in their last two outings.

Liverpool have attempted the fourth lowest number of crosses from open play in the Premier League this season and ahead of Wednesday's Capital One Cup quarter-final at Southampton, Thompson wants that to change.

He told Sky Sports: "At Anfield and in games which Liverpool are dominating, they need to be able to utilise Christian Benteke's presence. It's something that they will hopefully be working on at the training ground.

A lot can be learned from the way Southampton do it as they play really good football and still get the best out of their big man.
Phil Thompson

"They could have got a lot more crosses in to Benteke from dangerous areas on Sunday. When they had the ball five to 10 yards outside the box, there wasn't enough willingness to put the ball in there.

"I could have counted the amount of attempts on one hand and the build-up play was just too slow, which seems to be the case when Philippe Coutinho is out.

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"Certainly on a windy night, as it was on Sunday, more crosses would have caused havoc in the penalty box.

"You could see from the way that Ashley Williams was holding onto Benteke, when they did throw one into the box, that Swansea were scared of that threat.

"A lot can be learned from the way Southampton do it as they play really good football and still get the best out of their big man Graziano Pelle."

Watch Southampton v Liverpool live on Wednesday, 7pm, Sky Sports 1 HD - the draw for the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup is live on Sky Sports News HQ following the match.

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