Christian Benteke Performance Provides Liverpool with Optimism at Stoke City
Making his competitive debut in Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Stoke City on Sunday afternoon, £32.5 million striker Christian Benteke gave supporters many reasons for optimism with a modest yet promising performance at the Britannia Stadium.
An incredible long-range goal from Brazilian No. 10 Philippe Coutinho secured a vital three points for the Reds, with the clash looking set to fizzle out as a stalemate.
Benteke was one of five players to make their debut for Brendan Rodgers' side on Sunday, and owing to his considerable price tag, his performance was scrutinised from the start.
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Happily, the 24-year-old produced a comfortable showing in the No. 9 shirt.
A contentious signing from Premier League mid-table outfit Aston Villa, Benteke will have assuaged the ire of his detractors with his Stoke display.
Not Just a Target Man
"Football has changed and the football now is modern and I can adapt," Benteke told Andy Hunter of the Guardian (h/t This is Anfield) earlier this month, referencing the assertion from Villa manager Tim Sherwood that he may struggle at Liverpool due to his skill set—that of aerial dominance and brutish strength—jarring with the attractive, attacking game of Rodgers' Reds.
"It is not just about crossing, I can score normal goals too. I told him I am not afraid about it. If Liverpool bought me, then they know how to use me," he continued. "That is why I came here and I can show I can play with my feet, too. The manager here will use me how he wants. He knows how to do that."h
When speculation surrounding Liverpool's interest in the Belgian manifested towards the end of the 2014/15 season, supporters' fears that Rodgers had targeted the wrong specification of striker were just.
At Villa, and particularly under Sherwood, Benteke was utilised as a target man, tasked with winning the ball in the air, holding up play and combining functionally with diminutive colleagues such as Jack Grealish, Charles N'Zogbia and Fabian Delph.
However, while at Stoke the Reds did occasionally opt for a direct route to their attacking spearhead, Benteke showed a surprising all-round game.
Like at Villa, he dropped deep to collect the ball and continue moves, but in a Liverpool shirt he looked more dynamic, and his relationship with through-ball merchant Coutinho was particularly intriguing.
Coutinho thrives by picking up the ball, driving at goal and playing it quickly in spaces between defences—his style of playmaking is best suited to a forward such as Daniel Sturridge, and the Brazilian's majesty is part of the reason why Liverpool's No. 15 scored 21 goals in 29 league games in 2013/14.
Surely this would conflict with the brutish, aerially superior Benteke? Seemingly not.
Benteke consistently found himself in positions off the shoulder of Stoke centre-backs Geoff Cameron and Marc Muniesa. He was unlucky not to score, largely due to the slightly off-kilter weighting of Coutinho's passing, with the 23-year-old justifiably rusty after just three weeks of pre-season training.
That he was getting in these positions, as well as performing with the strength and power that was expected, is an encouraging sign as Liverpool supporters get used to their new No. 9.
Liverpool's No. 9
The mythology of shirt numbers is one of football's most bemusing aspects, but it is one that looms most notably at Anfield. For example, fellow summer arrival James Milner, speaking to the club's official website shortly after signing, said "with the success this club has had over its history, you could pick any single number from the squad list and you'll be wearing a special shirt."
Just like Milner taking up the No. 7 shirt made famous by Kenny Dalglish, Kevin Keegan and Luis Suarez, Benteke inheriting the No. 9 shirt adds disproportionate pressure to that guaranteed by his lofty valuation.
Benteke follows Robbie Fowler, Fernando Torres, Ian Rush and Ian St John in wearing the No. 9.
Fans will be hoping he can emulate their success on Merseyside, as opposed to the failures of previous incumbents Rickie Lambert, Iago Aspas and Andy Carroll.
"I knew if I joined a big club I would have some pressure so I am ready for this challenge. I will work hard and not worry about things," he told James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo after being allocated the famous jersey.
"I think the pressure will bring the best out of me. The money is high, but even if it was less when you join a big club there is pressure so I just have to deal with it. It is an honour to get this number and I am happy to have it."
Interestingly, he later added: "I am not coming in here with the intention of being a hero to the fans. Of course, I would appreciate it if they love me but it is not my main goal. If I do well then everyone will be happy. It is up to me."
Marrying his words with his promising performance, Benteke looks well placed to thrive as Liverpool's new first-choice centre-forward.
His performance at the Britannia, though not outstanding, pointed to there being much more to come.
More to Come?
"Now they have an alternative they should use it," former Liverpool midfielder Graeme Souness told Sky Sports after the game. "You must mix your game up. If you become too predictable and it’s rolled out every time from the back, the opposition midfield will be on you and keep you in there. You end up making all your passes in your own half or on the halfway line.
"Everyone is obsessed with playing like Barcelona today. But not everyone has an Andres Iniesta or a Xavi. That’s the correct way to go about your business if you have Benteke."
In a strike force of Benteke, Sturridge, Danny Ings and Divock Origi, Rodgers possesses a group that allows him tactical flexibility.
With the dynamic, intelligent Danny Ings and the raw but lightning-fast Origi backing up senior duo Benteke and Sturridge, Liverpool can now approach specific situations with tailor-made personnel.
Benteke's strength, power and aerial ability hold him up as a very different proposition within this Liverpool squad, but as he proved on Sunday, not one that will totally jar with Rodgers' blueprint.
As the 62 minutes that preceded Emre Can's introduction and Rodgers' influential tactical switch at the Britannia proved, Liverpool will take some time getting used to Benteke's style of play.
Too often during the first hour he was isolated as the Reds' lone forward, with Jordan Henderson and James Milner restricted as a midfield pivot and Coutinho hampered in the central areas due to the inactivity of a peripheral Adam Lallana and Jordon Ibe in the wide areas.
Once the deep-lying Can was introduced, Henderson and Milner were freed to support Benteke and Coutinho was allowed space to dictate play.
Benteke didn't mark his Liverpool debut with a goal, but he showed that, given time, he can be a prolific goalscorer for Rodgers' Reds. Though making generalisations from just one game can be damaging, the Belgian's performance fostered promise, rather than worry.
When he gets used to his surroundings, and the rest of the squad get used to him, a confident Benteke can help fire Liverpool to glory.
Statistics via WhoScored.com.
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