Why Benteke signing would be perfect for Liverpool

A striker who scores goals may seem like a simple enough fixture of any premier league club, but it has been one that Liverpool has struggled to feature since famed striker Luis Suarez left for FC Barcelona.

Last summer, manager Brendan Rodgers used the money from Suarez’ departure and invested in a slew of players, including midfielders Emre Can, Lazar Markovic, Adam Lallana, and strikers Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli. These transfer decisions failed to pan out, and paired with the constant injuries of striker Daniel Sturridge, Liverpool struggled mightily on attack, leading to a disappointing 6th place finish.

Just a year after Liverpool scored 101 goals in Premier League competitions, a season that saw Liverpool almost take the title, the attack was stagnant, only scoring 52 goals during the 2014-15 campaign.

In three seasons for Liverpool, Luis Suarez scored 69 goals, so Brendan Rodgers faced an incredibly tough task in replacing him. He failed in replacing him last year, as signings Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli fizzled, and Steven Gerrard led all scorers with only nine in the Premier League.

Liverpool was obviously missing the attacking genius that was Luis Suarez, and after the failed season that occurred last year, it was obvious that a goalscorer had to be high on Brendan Rodger’s priority list.

With reports of the Reds triggering the release clause of Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke, they seem to have their man.

The imposing striker has tallied 42 goals in 88 appearances for Aston Villa since his arrival in 2012, but despite his impressive scoring record, Liverpool fans have taken to social media to display their great displeasure over this potential signing.

The outrage seems to be more about the cost than the skills of Benteke, but for a club who didn’t have a player score more than 10 Premier League goals, the Belgian might be just the player that Liverpool needs.

Is he at the level of a Luis Suarez? No. Very few are, but Benteke will provide a proven goal-scorer at the striker position, which will help greatly improve the Liverpool starting 11.

With fans clamoring for the likes of Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus or Olympique Lyon’s striker Alexander Lacazette, which seem to be unrealistic targets, Benteke would give Liverpool a proven Premier League striker, something they haven’t had since Suarez’s departure.

During the 2014/15 Premier League season, Benteke accounted for 13 goals in 29 appearances for Aston Villa, which is five more than all of Liverpool’s strikers (Lambert, Balotelli, Sturridge, and Fabio Borini) combined.

“(Signing Benteke) would be a big statement,” Lallana said in an interview with the British tabloid Mirror. “He is a big ­presence. He has always scored goals. He would be a very strong component for us if he was to arrive.”

Doubters have likened the potential signing of Benteke to the infamous signing of Andy Carroll, due to their similar physique, but that comparison is completely unfair.

Benteke has proven he can contribute goals consistently in the Premier League. Since September 15, 2012, he has scored an impressive 42 goals. The only players to have scored more since then are Sergio Aguero, Luis Suarez, and Robin van Persie, all of whom have won the Golden Boot award since that date.

Despite only scoring 52 league goals last season, Liverpool only finished eight points outside of a Champions League position. Considering they suffered losses to the likes of Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Newcastle, and relegated Hull City, a striker like Benteke could have made a huge impact.

Only time will tell if Benteke’s arrival at Anfield will make a difference worthy of his large price tag, but the prospects of adding a 24-year old striker who is proven in the Premier League should excite, not dissapoint, the Liverpool faithful.