Christian Benteke Speaks on Jurgen Klopp Warning Before Sunderland vs. Liverpool

Christian Benteke has vowed to give more to the team after a talk with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp prior to the Reds' Boxing Day triumph over Leicester City.

According to Sky Sports, the striker said:

"

We had a man conversation and I think it is going to help me and help the team.

I have to run more and I have to be there for my team-mates.

I spoke with the manager a few days ago about where I can improve and what he is expecting from me.

Sometimes when you are a little bit on the side you try to understand what the manager needs and what he wants, and we had a very good chat.

You could see that I showed I understand his message and now I have to keep going like that.

"

At his press conference ahead of Liverpool's trip to Sunderland on Wednesday, Klopp spoke of the team's need to adapt to Benteke and equally for the striker to improve and become more involved in the game. 

Per David Maddock of the Daily Mirror, he said: "We need his goals and he is a goal scorer no doubt, but I don’t only think about him and goals. We are not a team who can play with a striker who scores a goal but is not involved in the game for the other 89 minutes."

Per the Mirror's Ben Burrows, he added:

"

We have to use his natural skills, and he has to try and be more involved in the game. Then we can make steps together. It’s not possible for a player to play his own style against the team.

Of course a striker has to make goals. That’s what we need him for. We are clear. Now we can work.

"

As Sky Sports' report notes, the 25-year-old cost Liverpool a princely £32.5 million in the summer.

The Reds are still trying to replace the goal contribution of Luis Suarez following his departure in 2014, and though Benteke isn't at the Uruguayan's level of ability, his record of 47 Premier League goals in 104 appearances is a strong one and shows Liverpool's thinking in recruiting him.

However, the striker has struggled to fit in at Anfield, first in Brendan Rodgers' possession-focused game and then in Klopp's high-pressing system.

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Liverpool don't traditionally pump many balls into the box—the kind a centre-forward of Benteke's stature and power feeds on—and he also lacks the technical skills needed to play a vital role in the Reds' buildup play or the pace to latch on to through balls or race past defenders.

The Belgian has scored five goals in 15 league outings for the Reds or one goal every three appearances, though in terms of time on the pitch, having played 959 minutes—just over 10 full games—that ratio is closer to one in two matches.

The Liverpool Echo's James Pearce believes his winning goal against Leicester will restore his confidence, while football writer Dave O'Connell saw evidence of his talk with Klopp:

Benteke also embarrassingly missed an golden opportunity to double his tally in the dying seconds of the game, which O'Connell wryly noted in his player ratings for the game:

Nevertheless, his decisive goal to seal the three points was the most important takeaway from the game, and though it could be a potentially lengthy process to get him fully in tune with his team-mates, he'll still be able to chip in with the occasional goal.

Klopp has a history of good man-management and getting the best out of his players, so with Benteke seemingly ready to work hard to fit in with Liverpool, he stands an excellent chance of doing so.