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Is Liverpool Hiding Friction Between Jurgen Klopp and Christian Benteke?

By Rucker Haringey

Jul 30, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; Liverpool FC fans cheer before a game between Liverpool FC and Manchester City FC at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 30, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; Liverpool FC fans cheer before a game between Liverpool FC and Manchester City FC at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jurgen Klopp surprisingly selected Roberto Firmino over Christian Benteke to lead his line against Manchester City this weekend. Is there hidden friction between Klopp and his most talented striker?

Most would agree that Benteke is the superior striker to Firmino in almost every facet of the game. That’s why it was so curious that Klopp opted for the Brazilian against then top of the table Manchester City. It paid off for Klopp and Liverpool with a masterful performance in a 4-1 drubbing of City and Firmino came up big with a goal and an assist. Still, it has to raise questions that Klopp didn’t start his best striker in such a big fixture.

The fit between Klopp and Benteke isn’t exactly like that of a hand and a glove. Klopp is famous for his high-pressing style and Benteke isn’t exactly a fleet-footed striker. He’s a more well-rounded player than he’s given credit for, but he still isn’t ideally suited for closing down defenders with high intensity for 90 minutes.

Someone like Firmino, while not the caliber player of Benteke is a more natural stylistic fit for the high press. This is, presumably, why Klopp chose him to start against City.

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You have to wonder how that decision sat with the supremely talented Benteke. He’s a proven Premier League goal scorer with an abundance of talent. There aren’t many Premier League teams that he couldn’t waltz in and start for immediately. He’s an accomplished international for a Belgian side that’s ranked number one in the world currently. He has to think he should be a consistent starter for Liverpool no matter what system the manager chooses to employ.

His lack of a start against Manchester City caused me to research the past between the two more closely in a search for answers. Surprisingly, just two days ago the Mirror published a story that had Benteke speaking on the record about how Klopp wanted to buy him during his Dortmund days but was unsuccessful. I find the timing of this story amazingly convenient for Liverpool.

Imagine if you would that some tension does exist between Klopp and Benteke. Nothing out of line, just a difference of opinion between the two on how Benteke might fit in to Klopp’s system. If you were the Liverpool’s public relations team what would you do to kill this sort of chatter before it started? You’d leak a story about Klopp’s admiration of Benteke that greatly predates his arrival at Liverpool. You’d want a story to be published just like the Mirror piece that came out two days ago.

It’s entirely possible that no issue exists between the two men, but I’m far from convinced. Benteke’s absence form the starting 11 versus Manchester City certainly deserves to raise the question. The amazingly coincidental timing of the Klopp admiration for Benteke article doesn’t exactly smell right to me either.

It’s not a certainty, but it’s a distinct possibility that Liverpool is hard at work covering up friction between their manager and star striker.

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