The Liverpool Offside - Full Coverage: Liverpool Sign Christian BentekeZeppeline, Trinken, & Pink Badeshortshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51345/ltos-fav.png2015-07-24T20:00:02+01:00http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/rss/stream/86315902015-07-24T20:00:02+01:002015-07-24T20:00:02+01:00Rodgers Addresses Benteke Concerns
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<p>Brendan Rodgers has finally spoken on Liverpool's biggest signing of the summer: Christian Benteke.</p> <p><a style="background-color: #ffffff;" class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> have finally spent big on a couple of attacking players to make up for the creative and finishing prowess of the formidable <span>Luis Suárez</span>. <span>Adam Lallana</span> and <span>Mario Balotelli</span> were earmarked as the pair last season, but form and fitness among other issues limited the impact they could make. They first pair may not have been exactly cheap, but the deals for the second pair could cost the club £20 million more than Lallana and Balotelli. While Balotelli is <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-transfer-news/2015/7/22/9013435/brendan-rodgers-says-mario-balotelli-can-leave-liverpool-fight-for-place" target="_blank">essentially free to leave the club</a>, Lallana <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-news-coverage/2015/7/19/8999719/lallana-looking-to-impress-after-difficult-first-season-at-liverpool" target="_blank">can look forward to making a bigger impact</a> in his second season at Anfield. Last summer <span>Roberto Firmino</span> <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2014/6/14/5810284/roberto-firmino-liverpool-transfer-hoffenheim-deal-want-want-want" target="_blank">was reported to be the alternative</a> to Adam Lallana, but now Liverpool have both to presumably join <span>Philippe Coutinho</span> in supplying the club's <a href="http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-transfer-news/2015/7/22/9014563/official-liverpool-sign-christian-benteke-aston-villa-release-clause-325m" target="_blank">latest signing</a>: <span>Christian Benteke</span>.</p>
<p>Here's the problem. If <span>Daniel Sturridge</span> is fit and doing Daniel Sturridge things, it is easy to see how the attacking midfield and wide forward pieces fit around him. It's not so clear with Christian Benteke, a striker who possesses dangerous and effective gifts. He hasn't quite captured the imagination of the Liverpool fanbase like Roberto Firmino, something that club legend <span>Jamie Carragher</span> <a href="http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-transfer-news/2015/7/23/9020381/jamie-carragher-on-christian-benteke-liverpool-transfer-devastating-infuriating" target="_blank">addressed</a>, but there are legitimate reasons that extend beyond the former Liverpool defender's assessment. Firmino combines with the existing squad's strengths in terms of movement and playing style while enabling a potential return to greater intensity and urgency in pressing up the pitch. Then there's the fact that Liverpool at their best under Rodgers have been more direct anyway. Still, can Benteke fit in? <span>Brendan Rodgers</span> thinks so and <a href="http://www.lfctour.com/news/latest-news/boss-on-kl-draw-ibe-and-benteke" target="_blank">expressed his confidence</a> in the former <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/">Aston Villa</a> striker's suitability after Liverpool <a href="http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2015/7/24/9031039/malaysia-xi-1-liverpool-1-match-recap-pre-season-tour-dejan-lovren-mistakes" target="_blank">ended their pre-season tour with a draw</a>.</p>
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<p>There's a number of qualities that he has and he will only improve in his time at the club. I think first and foremost his goals, if you look at his goals record since the time that he's been in the Premier League he's up there with the best in terms of numbers. So that was very important for us. Obviously I've heard and I've seen stuff about the style, 'he won't fit the style of how we play' - I think he'll only complement it and help us. He's a big guy but he's got the attributes that I like in terms of pace and movement and he gets goals, he gets all types of goals. He's great in the air, strong, he can hold the game up, he can play on the counter-attack, he can play whenever the team is deep because he can hold the ball up with his physical strength. As I said, he's a boy that still is improving in his game so I don't think there's any doubt he'll fit our tactical idea of the game and he can be a huge player for us.</p>
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<p>Brendan Rodgers, in the fine tradition of managerial vigilance and paranoia, keeps tabs on what's being said and written about the club -- and so he should! In the pre-season tour, Liverpool seem to have adopted an approach where the aim is to press high up the pitch for the first 20 to 30 minutes before dropping off somewhat. Sound familiar? If this is the case, perhaps Benteke can help apply and relieve pressure in both phases. His robust playing style and appetite for moving into goalscoring positions will hopefully result in goals, while having a player who can win the ball in the air or battle for it on the ground provides an outlet for a team that may sit a little deeper at times. Mere conjecture at this stage, but Rodgers has been reportedly interested in the 24-year-old for quite some time so a plan for the player's integration and utilisation is to be expected as well as demanded.</p>
<p>There's no doubt that this is an excellent opportunity for Rodgers to truly have his team free from purported transfer committee "meddling". Rodgers described the owners as "very supportive" during his tenure so this naturally places even more responsibility on the manager's shoulders in what looks to be a crucial fourth season at the club. On the other hand, Benteke and Rodgers can rise together in 2015/16. If Benteke continues to score goals like he did in the last few months of last season, both the club and the manager might be able to wrestle free from the afflictions of last season's disappointing campaign. For Benteke, he'd be entering his mid-twenties as another prolific Liverpool striker. History has shown that attaining such a status brings virtually unmatched respect and adulation for those who can prove themselves worthy.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-transfer-news/2015/7/24/9035693/brendan-rodgers-on-christian-benteke-liverpool-transfer-playing-styleCStars2015-07-23T18:00:04+01:002015-07-23T18:00:04+01:00Carragher on “Devastating and Infuriating" Benteke
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<p>Liverpool finally got the striker they were chasing, but while few doubt Christian Benteke's talent, many—including ex-Red Jamie Carragher—wonder about his fit.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">A common theme amongst <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> fans when it became clear the club had made <span>Christian Benteke</span> their top striker target was concern over whether he was a good fit. There was little doubt about his talent, but his style seemed more suited to a more direct and physical side and an odd match for Liverpool’s two-deep collection of highly technical midfielders.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">It turns out ex-Reds legend and Sky pundit <span>Jamie Carragher</span> shares many of those concerns, seeing Benteke as a highly skilled player but one who might still fail to work at Liverpool. Speaking in his <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-3171318/Christian-Benteke-doesn-t-excite-Liverpool-fans-like-Roberto-Firmino-95-cent-never-seen-play-worry-Belgian-won-t-suited-Reds-style.html" target="_blank">Daily Mail column</a>, the defender mixed equal parts concern and hope about a player many believe they already know everything about after watching him regularly over three seasons with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/">Aston Villa</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">"There are no secrets about players in England," began Carragher. "We know all there is to know. So while we’ve been impressed by how Benteke has torn teams apart—Liverpool, against who he scored five goals in six games, have really suffered—we also know when his touch has been por and his lack of interest has been apparent. He can be devastating and infuriating in equal measure."</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">For £32.5M, though, the expectation will be for a player who is devastating week in and week out. And the talent is there for Benteke to be that kind of a striker for Liverpool. At least if <span>Brendan Rodgers</span> can figure out a way to shape the rest of the team around Benteke to get the most out of him. If he isn’t able—or, as with some past strikers, willing—it could be another frustrating, infuriating season.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">"I like him as a striker and actually think he would be great for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a>," Carragher added. "My worry at Liverpool is, will he be suited to the short, sharp, and incisive passing game that Rodgers favours? Brendan wants his side to play through teams rather than getting the ball into him from wide areas, a fact <span>Tim Sherwood</span> pointed out as soon as Liverpool’s interest became public."</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Christian Benteke scored 49 goals in 100 games for Aston Villa over three seasons, with 42 of those goals coming in 88 Premier League matches. There is little doubt that if he is put in a position to succeed—a position to score goals—he will deliver. The only question, and it’s one many fans share with Carragher, is whether Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool side will manage to do that.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-transfer-news/2015/7/23/9020381/jamie-carragher-on-christian-benteke-liverpool-transfer-devastating-infuriatingNoel Chomyn2015-07-22T21:08:27+01:002015-07-22T21:08:27+01:00Official: Liverpool Sign Christian Benteke
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<p>After a long chase, Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers officially got their man today, as the club announced the signing of striker Christian Benteke from Aston Villa for £32.5M.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Following a chase that began well before last season had ended, Liverpool have today officially completed the signing of Christian Benteke. The striker arrives from Aston Villa after three successful seasons with the West Midlands club, where he scored an impressive 49 goals in 100 total appearances in all competitions.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The £32.5M fee, with £16M to be paid up front and the balance dolled out in instalments over the next few years, is a major investment for the club. For a striker who has averaged a goal every two games in England entering his prime, though, it isn’t exorbitant. At least if he proves to be a good fit, which Benteke at least believes he can be.</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">"I think it was the right club for me," said the big striker <a target="_blank" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpoolfc.com%2Fnews%2Flatest-news%2F189481-christian-benteke-the-first-interview&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fliverpooloffside.sbnation.com%2Fliverpool-fc-transfer-news%2F2015%2F7%2F22%2F9014563%2Fofficial-liverpool-sign-christian-benteke-aston-villa-release-clause-325m" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">when asked</a> about his desire to make the switch to Liverpool this summer. "I had a good chat with the manager and I wanted to be part of his project. When I came here with Aston Villa, [it was] a great feeling to play at Anfield. Now, to be in the home shirt is going to be an exciting feeling."</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">With only Friday’s match remaining on their pre-season tour, Benteke will not join up with the squad main, instead training at Melwood over the next few days with fellow new signing Roberto Firmino and the late returning Philippe Coutinho and Emre Can. Still, most will be expecting him to start when Liverpool kick off the new season against Stoke on August 9th.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">"I know it’s a big club," Benteke added. "They’ve won league titles and the Champions League five times and of course the UEFA Cup and a lot of trophies. I think there are quality players, a lot of good players with big names of course, [so] I’m happy to be part of this team and will try to help the team reach its goals. I’m very excited."</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Benteke is Liverpool’s seventh signing of the summer following Firmino, James Milner, Danny Ings, Nathaniel Clyne, Joe Gomez, and Adam Bogdan. Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling, Sebastian Coates, Glen Johnson, and Brad Jones have left. Accounting for the portion of Sterling’s fee owed to QPR, Liverpool's net spend stands at approximately £40M.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-transfer-news/2015/7/22/9014563/official-liverpool-sign-christian-benteke-aston-villa-release-clause-325mNoel Chomyn2015-07-21T13:06:38+01:002015-07-21T13:06:38+01:00Watch: The Best of Benteke<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tpWBhIMgis8" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>
<div class="source source-img"><p><p>The deal's nearly done, so here are the best Benteke moments from last season in one tidy highlight video.</p></p></div>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2015/7/21/9008683/watch-the-best-of-bentekeRob Usry2015-07-20T22:45:39+01:002015-07-20T22:45:39+01:00Paul Lambert Sure of Benteke's Success
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<p>Christian Benteke's former manager believes that the striker will be successful at Liverpool FC.</p> <p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> have won all three pre-season games as expected with new signings making a positive early impression against somewhat modest opposition. The sight of new players provides hope for a potential revival in 201/16, but a top class striker was always required this summer. <span>Brendan Rodgers</span>' reported top target has been <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/">Aston Villa's</a> <span>Christian Benteke</span>, and the Belgian international appears to be on the verge of moving to Liverpool. The <a target="_blank" href="http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-transfer-news/2015/7/18/8997907/christian-benteke-transfer-liverpool-medical-32m-deal-monday-preseason-tour-aston-villa-move">medical was arranged </a>and the <a target="_blank" href="http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-transfer-news/2015/7/19/9000805/christian-benteke-transfer-liverpool-aston-villa-payment-structure-32m-release-clause">payment structure was agreed</a> for a player who can hopefully produce similar performances to the ones that have tormented Liverpool over the past three seasons.</p>
<p>Christian Beneke's likely future manager <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/row-zed/liverpool-manager-brendan-rodgers-really-6104371">didn't want to talk about him</a>, whereas the 24-year-old's former manager <a target="_blank" href="http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/9919144/paul-lambert-thinks-liverpools-move-for-christian-benteke-will-be-money-well-spent">was more than happy</a> to speak about what the player could bring to his prospective employers. <span>Paul Lambert</span> has managed Benteke for most of the the player's career in England and was unequivocal about the player's talents. Lambert's approach with Aston Villa wasn't exactly expansive and exploited his players' physical gifts on the counter attack.</p>
<p>"I think he is going to do great," Lambert said before revealing that he's the best manager to have private conversations with. "Christian phoned me yesterday and I had a good chat with him. I am delighted for him, he has got a move to a really big, big club. I hear reports that he can only score from cross balls. Well, Christian Benteke will score for Liverpool. The chances they create, he will score and, as Christian said yesterday, he is very good with his feet. I knew that anyway from signing him and I think he will be a terrific signing. He will score all types of goals. If you look at the way he plays, especially his first year at Aston Villa, where he was a phenomenon."</p>
<p>If the striker reproduces his 2012/13 form or starts the forthcoming season how he ended 2014/15 then Lambert won't look like a manager who is merely praising and supporting a former player.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-transfer-news/2015/7/20/9006749/christian-benteke-transfer-liverpool-paul-lambert-praise-successCStars2015-07-19T20:06:10+01:002015-07-19T20:06:10+01:00Liverpool, Villa Agree Payment Structure
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<p>After triggering his release clause, Liverpool were left to work out the payment structure for Christian Benteke, a task that's reportedly been completed today.</p> <p>As <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Liverpool's</a> preseason tour reaches its midway point, it appears that their summer transfer business has been concluded. Having triggered the £32.5m release clause for <a href="https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Aston Villa's</a> <span>Christian Benteke</span> earlier in the week, Liverpool have now come to an agreement on the structure of the payment, which was the last hurdle before the player could join the club.</p>
<p>Reports indicate that Liverpool will pay £16m of the fee up front, with the remainder paid in installments over the course of time. That limits the overall outlay this summer, and should signal an end to the summer spending unless other deals emerge in the next month and a half. The transfer fee is the second-largest in Liverpool's history, placing Benteke ahead of <span>Roberto Firmino</span>, who held the honor for only a few weeks earlier this summer, and behind <span>Andy Carroll</span>, who cost the club £35m back in January of 2011.</p>
<p>The Belgian international will miss the remainder of Liverpool's preseason tour as he completes his end of the deal on Merseyside, but he's expected to join Firmino, Coutinho, and <span>Emre Can</span> in training at Melwood this week. That leaves Benteke and the others available for the preseason's final fixture against HJK Helsinki on August 1; Liverpool also have a friendly scheduled for August 2 against Swindon Town, but the trip to Finland will take precedence and should feature a Liverpool squad close to full-strength.</p>
<p><span>Brendan Rodgers</span> now has the striker he wanted and a squad littered with players he's had a hand in bringing to the club, with Benteke the most expensive and the one upon whom high hopes will be pinned. After faltering badly in the absence of <span>Daniel Sturridge</span> last season, Liverpool's attack need someone to lead from the front, and Rodgers has identified Benteke as that man. There will be support once Sturridge returns from injury, but for now, Christian Benteke will be expected to get the goals.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-transfer-news/2015/7/19/9000805/christian-benteke-transfer-liverpool-aston-villa-payment-structure-32m-release-clause-Ed-2015-07-17T22:30:00+01:002015-07-17T22:30:00+01:00Benteke Deal Held Up Over Payment Structure
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<p>Though there is no suggestion the deal is in jeopardy, Christian Benteke's move to Anfield appears to have been delayed by Liverpool's desire to negotiate a payment structure for the buyout.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span>Christian Benteke</span> to <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Liverpool</a> continues to look a matter of when, with various reports suggesting personal terms have been agreed in principle with the player and a medical could happen as soon as Monday. One problem, though, that appears to be slowing things down is that Liverpool are hoping to get <a href="https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Aston Villa</a> to negotiate a payment structure.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Reds, while having signalled they are ready and willing to match the £32.5M release clause, would rather not pay the whole thing up front, and they are hopeful that Villa will agree a payment structure for a transfer fee equal to Benteke’s release. Villa could always stand firm, but it would seem pointless for a club that will want to get down to the business of bringing in replacements and moving on.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Any spending Aston Villa embark on is likely to see them paying transfer fees in instalments rather than triggering buyout clauses up front, so there is little to be gained by them demanding his fee be paid all at once other than to drag things out a little longer. Unless they decide to let spite win out over sense, that doesn’t do them any good. Still, it’s an issue for the two sides to work through.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Benteke clause also met but not in full up front. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LFC?src=hash">#LFC</a> want to structure payment so must agree that with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AVFC?src=hash">#AVFC</a> before CB can undergo medical</p>
— David Ornstein (@bbcsport_david) <a href="https://twitter.com/bbcsport_david/status/622070442736619521">July 17, 2015</a>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-transfer-news/2015/7/17/8995963/christian-benteke-liverpool-aston-villa-deal-delayed-payment-structureNoel Chomyn2015-07-16T13:45:04+01:002015-07-16T13:45:04+01:00Liverpool Set to Trigger Benteke Release Clause
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<p>It was always clear Christian Benteke was Liverpool's top striker target, and it is the Reds who have blinked first in their showdown with Aston Villa as they are now set to pay his release clause in full.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Some speculated that reports <a href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Manchester United</a> were preparing to trigger <span>Christian Benteke</span>’s release clause were in fact <a href="http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-transfer-news/2015/7/15/8969631/liverpool-fc-transfer-rumours-manchester-united-christian-benteke-buyout" target="_blank">nothing but a ploy</a> to force <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Liverpool</a>’s hand. If they were, then they appear to have worked, with reliable reports claiming the Reds are now set to trigger the clause emerging today.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Widespread reports from journalists with ties to the club, led by James Pearce at the Liverpool Echo, claim the club have decided they’re convinced <a href="https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Aston Villa</a> are not going to budge on their insistence the striker isn’t for sale—and that they want Benteke badly enough to pay his full £32.5M release clause to get him.</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">Liverpool had hoped a lower fee could be negotiated, but Benteke’s status as the club’s top target and their desperation to land him was always clear. This put Villa in the driver’s seat. Under other circumstances, they might even have been willing to haggle a little over the price. In this case, they held firm.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Faced with the prospect of waiting until deadline day and still having to trigger the release in full to get him, and faced with reports of interest from rival clubs, and with no viable option in sight, Liverpool have blinked first. Barring something unexpected, Benteke will now become the club’s second most expensive signing.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Comparisons to their most expensive signing, <span>Andy Carroll</span>, will be inevitable, but Benteke is far more skilled than the English target man the club famously blew £35M on as Fernando Torres’ replacement. Still, there are concerns about Benteke’s fit. Yet if Liverpool are spending this much, clearly he is arriving as first choice.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Clearly, for £32.5M, Benteke starts whether or not <span>Daniel Sturridge</span> is fit. Whether he plays on his own up top in Sturridge’s absence or the move signals a regular return to the 4-4-2 diamond is another question, but it’s very, very clear that the Belgian striker isn’t arriving as some kind of a Plan B.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">He’s arriving to start. He's arriving to be the man who leads the line for Liverpool week in and week out. And fair or not, for £32.5M, he’d better hit the ground running.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2015/7/16/8976919/liverpool-fc-trigger-christian-benteke-release-clause-full-transfer-breakingNoel Chomyn