Benteke Is Perfect For Liverpool – Even At £32.5 Million

After weeks of speculation, Christian Benteke’s much anticipated move from Aston Villa to Liverpool finally seems to be nearing completion. As reported on The Inquisitr earlier, the Liverpool club finally agreed to pay Villa’s asking price – a whopping £32.5 million – hence triggering a release clause that leaves Villa no choice but to release the 24-year-old Belgium striker from his contract.

According to that report though, Benteke’s move to the Anfield club has hardly been received with unanimous acclaim amongst Liverpool fans. If anything, there seems to be a preponderance of negativity surrounding the move. From concerns about the huge transfer fee to Benteke’s compatibilty with Liverpool’s tactics under manager Brendan Rodgers, to the supposed availability of better options, Liverpool fans – and others – have not been shy with their opinions on social media.

Yet, take a closer look and its easy to see why Rodgers has made Benteke his number one transfer target this summer – and why the club is paying big to make the Belgian the second most expensive signing in Liverpool history. Indeed, it would be easy to conclude that Benteke may just be perfect for Liverpool.

First, Liverpool have a dire need for firepower. After scoring 101 goals in 2013/14, the departure of Luis Suarez last summer was compounded by Daniel Sturridge’s long injury-induced absences, leaving Liverpool to finish last season with a measly total of 49 goals. It’s also true that last season’s below par summer transfers – particularly the arrival of strikers Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert, neither of whom ever looked a fit for Liverpool’s tactics – also contributed to a poor goal scoring season, and have added to the skepticism surrounding Benteke, another tall striker renown for his aerial prowess.

Yet, if it’s goals Liverpool need, Benteke’s record in the Premiership suggest that he could be just the man for that. In 101 appearances for Aston Villa, whom he joined for Genk in 2012. Benteke has scored 48 goals, an impressive rate of almost one goal in two games. Indeed, since arriving in England three years ago, only three men – Sergio Aguero, Luis Suarez and Robin van Persie – have scored more goals than Benteke, and all three played on teams far better than the perennially relegation-threatened Aston Villa.

Christian Benteke a risk worth taking for Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool. #LFC @WhoScored:http://t.co/jDpoJibPLV pic.twitter.com/xEZeznVmt3

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 16, 2015

Beyond sheer numbers, the primary concern raised about Benteke is his ability – assumed inability – to fit into Rodgers’ tactical scheme. It’s clear where the concern comes from: Benteke is tall, big and strong and extremely good in the air. At Aston Villa – especially under former manager Paul Lambert – the primary tactic was to play to this strength with a constant supply of direct long balls from the back and crosses from the flank. Liverpool fans have seen that type of striker before.

In fact, the club paid a club record £35 million to sign Andy Carroll from Newcastle in 2011. It didn’t go well, and Carroll was one of the first players out of the door when Rodgers arrived with a different tactical approach in 2012. It’s understandable then that questions would be raised about the arrival of another big money aerially adept target man, as The Guardian highlights here.

Except that Benteke, for all his ability with his head, is much more than just a target man. Here’s a big man that is actually very good with the ball at his feet. He has shown superb control under pressure, and ability to hold up the ball even when isolated and good link up play with short and direct passes. Check out this wonder goal against Manchester United for great ball control and precision finishing.

In addition, Benteke is hardly your typical immobile target man. He has the pace and power to get behind defences, and he can press the ball too, as he shows in the build up to this well-taken solo-effort against Crystal Palace last season.

A couple of highlight views cannot obviously make the case for consistency, but this post on Reddit looks to dispel some of the misconceptions about Benteke.

Benteke’s strength in the air need not be wasted at Liverpool either, even if the Reds prefer to keep the ball on the ground and hardly crossed the ball last season. It would certainly give Rodgers’ side something extra on set pieces – corner kicks and free kicks – a route they too often failed to profit from last season (10 goals), but which provided an impressive 24 goals in 2013/14. Seven of those goals came from the physically imposing centre back Martin Skrtel, but it was still an impressive return for a side without an obvious aerial threat in attack, and even though Steven Gerrard has taken his delivery to California, this should be another area in which Benteke can benefit Liverpool.

As for the money, after banking £49 million from the sale of 20-year old Raheem Sterling this week, Liverpool can hardly complain about paying a seemingly exhorbitant fee for a striker Villa would have been happy to keep – and in whom Manchester United were reportedly beginning to take an interest. After missing out on Alexis Sanchez last summer – and having to take a late gamble on Balotelli – Liverpool have decided it is worth paying over the odds to get their man. According to The Independent, Benteke was the manager’s choice right from the off and the owners have shown great faith in his ability by agreeing to this transfer. It will now be up to Rodgers to make this work.

Benteke brings target man attributes to Liverpool, no doubt. But he also brings other attributes: pace, aggression, skill, great finishing and stellar Premier League experience.

Could that make him just perfect for Liverpool? Time will tell.

(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)