Liverpool are expected to announce the signing of Christian Benteke this week, but is the Belgian the final piece of their puzzle to be successful?
Brendan Rodgers has been backed in the transfer market again this summer, and the Premier League giants have certainly made some astute moves.
Adding James Milner, Nathaniel Clyne and Roberto Firmino gives them quality and depth, but Benteke is undoubtedly the marquee signing.
The biggest problem in that projected starting line-up though is that it suggests that Daniel Sturridge may not have as much involvement as he deserves.
The England international has proven since his switch to Anfield that he can score goals regularly, and it will come as a huge blow if the summer acquisitions push him out of the starting XI.
Rodgers can combat this with various formations or personnel changes that include Sturridge playing alongside Benteke in a two-man attack, or even playing him out wide in an attacking trident as part of a 3-4-3, 4-3-3, 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1 or even a 3-5-2 system.
However, if he chooses to go with a sole target man and opts for steel, creativity and importantly numbers in midfield, then it represents a headache for manager and strikers alike.
For all the coverage that the Belgian ace’s move to Anfield is getting, there have been questions raised as to whether or not he will fit in with the Liverpool style of play.
Essentially, Rodgers will have to adjust his approach having lost Raheem Sterling, and although he now has a proven goalscorer in the box at his disposal, it risks causing some transitional problems.
Coutinho and Firmino operating behind a main attacker will cause all sorts of problems for their opposition, but Liverpool are creating an issue for themselves by potentially neglecting Sturridge in order to allow Benteke to flourish.
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In contrast, if Rodgers chooses to keep faith in Sturridge as his sole striker in a 4-2-3-1 system, Benteke’s lack of versatility could see him in a more reserved role.
Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood has continually warned the former Genk marksman that a move elsewhere won’t necessarily bring the rewards that he is seeking. Depending on what Rodgers is working on ahead of the new campaign, he might just be proved right.
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