Christian Benteke's return boosts Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp
Sunday 25 October 2015 20:59, UK
Jurgen Klopp is still waiting for his first win as Liverpool manager following their 1-1 draw with Southampton, but Christian Benteke's performance was cause for optimism, writes Nick Wright…
Three consecutive draws was not what Liverpool supporters envisaged when Jurgen Klopp arrived on Merseyside, but the return of Christian Benteke suggests a brighter future lies ahead.
A lingering hamstring injury has denied Klopp the chance to unleash Benteke from the start since his appointment earlier this month, but after his all-action second-half display against Southampton and in the absence of Daniel Sturridge, it is unlikely he will be held back again.
The Belgium international replaced his younger countryman Divock Origi after a meek first half performance which left Jamie Carragher less than impressed in the Sky Sports studio. "They're not aggressive enough, they're too nice" he said. "Klopp likes heavy metal football, but for two-and-a-half games Liverpool have been playing like a church choir."
Who better to add some muscle than Benteke? Origi had been pushed off the ball too easily by Southampton's defenders, but his hulking replacement immediately made his presence felt. His first action was to superbly chest a long pass into the path of Adam Lallana before collecting the return pass and dispatching a low cross which had to be blocked for a corner.
Anfield crackled at the sight of Benteke wrestling Jose Fonte and Virgil van Dijk out of his way from the set pieces that followed, and suddenly Liverpool were transformed. "When Benteke came on all of a sudden they have a bit of a physical threat up there, someone prepared to mix it," said Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness.
No other player won more aerial duels than Benteke (five) despite his late introduction, and even by his heading standards his goal was remarkable. James Milner's cross came from an innocuous position on the right-hand side, but Benteke's run was perfectly timed and the connection was thunderous. Despite the distance from goal, Maarten Stekelenburg didn't have a chance.
"To get goals, to create openings, you've got to take a few blows," said Souness, praising Benteke's combative performance. "Liverpool in the first half were powder-puff, but in the second half they started to get a few good balls to Benteke, and that gets you on the edge of your seat if you're a Liverpool supporter."
The former Aston Villa striker has now scored 14 goals in 18 Premier League appearances, and no player has netted more than his 14 headed goals since the 2013/14 season. "Benteke will bully centre-halves," added Souness. "If he gets a yard, if he gets slightly blind-side [of the defender] and attacks the ball, no centre-half will stop him."
Sadio Mane's equaliser left Anfield with a familiar sense of deflation, but Benteke continued to threaten right until the end. "For Liverpool to have a decent season this year, they've got to get him fit," added Souness. "Otherwise they'll have a lot of the ball but they'll go nowhere with it."
Liverpool still have concerns in defence and midfield and Benteke's goal was one of only two shots on target, but Klopp will also take heart from his players' work-rate. The Reds became the first team to outrun Tottenham as they ran 116km at White Hart Lane in his first match in charge, and they covered even more ground against the Saints, with Premier League tracking data showing they clocked 117.8km.
"Now we have to go further," said Klopp after the game. "Development is never a short race, it is always a long thing. This league is too strong to make it easy and think now everything is better. When I came here I knew some things would be difficult, it's normal, teams don't wait for us."
Plenty of hard work lies ahead for Liverpool, but Klopp's job will be made easier with Benteke back in the side.
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