Liverpool

Christian Benteke: 'I have not lived up to expectations at Liverpool'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 23 March 2016

Liverpool striker Christian Benteke admits that he has not lived up to expectations so far, but argues that his opportunities have been too limited under Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool striker Christian Benteke has admitted that he has failed to live up to expectations at the club so far.

The Belgian joined Liverpool from Aston Villa for £32.5m last summer but has scored just eight goals in 35 appearances for the club since, and none from open play so far in 2016.

Benteke has fallen behind the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi and Roberto Firmino in the pecking order since Jurgen Klopp arrived at the club, and he feels as though the German is not giving him the chance to prove himself.

"I was obviously happy [with the move to Liverpool], I joined a great club. I thought that finally I could find stability, settle for a duration at a big club. I knew I could face difficult months but, in the long run, it would work," he is quoted as saying by Belgium's Sport/Voetbalmagazine.

"I played two full matches in a row since Klopp [arrived]. I went up against Leicester, I scored, I followed up with a game and a goal against Sunderland and then we lost to West Ham and since then I have been discarded. Even my father was annoyed at first by my status as a reservist and told me that I can do nothing.

"I spoke with [Belgium teammates] Eden [Hazard] and with Marouane [Fellaini], they all gave me the same answer: when a coach does not count on you, you cannot change anything. The thing that is annoying is that I had prepared to transfer to Liverpool. I never would have signed if I had not been the priority of the coach."

Benteke suggested that his lack of playing time under Klopp has affected his self-belief as to whether he is worth such a large sum of money.

"Despite the situation I am in I am second top scorer behind Firmino, with eight goals: this is not so bad although I would have hoped to score more. I am the first to say that I have not shown enough of my worth for a club like Liverpool but on the other hand, when I arrived under Brendan Rodgers I knew I would have the opportunity to show my qualities, I was worth all that money, I deserved to wear the Liverpool shirt. But now..." he added.

"I knew that the new coach might have a different opinion on me and that's what happened. He told me he wanted me to be more involved in the game and yet it seems to me that this is one of my qualities. I have considered his remarks, I told myself that I had to adapt and change my style of play and then I remembered that Liverpool bought me for my qualities.

"The ideal situation is to keep my identity while trying to adapt to the style of the coach. And if it does not work, it does not work."

Benteke has not started a league game for Liverpool since January 2.