:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47071852/GettyImages-484352834.0.jpg)
With the summer transfer window officially behind us, you might've been forgiven for thinking the deadline day drama was over, but not if we can help it. Having successfully navigated today while retaining the likes of Lucas Leiva and Mamadou Sakho (who's futures appeared to be hanging in the balance), the day's bad news comes in the form of a thigh injury reportedly sustained by Christian Benteke - the new focal point of Liverpool's attack - on international duty.
But wait! It's not all bad news. While he's expected to miss Belgium's Euro 2016 qualifier against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday, he should be fit and available for Liverpool's crunch tie with Manchester United at Old Trafford in two weeks time. That news will be a boost to Brendan Rodgers, who already faces the daunting task of traveling to the Theatre of Dreams without star man Philippe Coutinho following the red card he picked up during Liverpool's forgettable defeat to West Ham United.
The towering Belgian striker apparently picked up the strain during that same match, but played on regardless. While he's been unable to train since meeting up with his national teammates, the £32.5 million hit man is expected to have recovered in time to feature against Cyprus on Sunday. All relatively reassuring, we suppose, but it does highlight how much Liverpool have riding on a player with a history of serious injuries.
In Benteke's absence, Rodgers would have to call upon either Danny Ings or Divock Origi, who aren't quite yet at the level required to impose themselves on a side like Manchester United, but, with Daniel Sturridge presumably nearing full fitness, Liverpool could yet have a wealth of attacking options to call upon. What's crucial for the manager now is to find a way to keep them all fit and firing. Easier said than done.
