The long slog is finally over: The Reds have their scoring phenom. Will Christian Benteke elevate Liverpool to a top 4 finish in 2015-16?
After a lot of struggles and even more cash made out to Tim Sherwood at Villa Park, Liverpool secured a deal for former Aston Villa scoring sensation Christian Benteke.
The official Liverpool FC Twitter account posted the photos of Benteke’s arrival as he put the pen to paper and tried on his new kit. (Not necessarily in that order)
The 24-year-old signed his contract with #LFC today after successfully completing a medical #BentekeLFC pic.twitter.com/b4rPKFqEhH
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 22, 2015
The 24-year-old Belgian superstar almost single-handedly saved Aston Villa from relegation after scoring 10 goals in the final 11 matches of the season, but the Villans couldn’t keep their star in the Premier League cellar and allowed Liverpool to match the £32.5m buyout clause in his contract.
Read the full story on @bentekechris20 signing a long-term #LFC contract here: http://t.co/1eZUwnnGEm #BentekeLFC pic.twitter.com/LMZHB7ytZK — Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 22, 2015
In addition to his 42 Premier League goals in just 3 seasons and 44 goals in six years with the Belgian Pro League, Benteke has 7 scores in 24 caps for the Belgian national team.
Benteke has 24 caps and seven goals for Belgium to date. 10 key facts here: http://t.co/92ZLZTPTuS #BentekeLFC pic.twitter.com/iYuLKu0fH5
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 22, 2015
What’s your reaction to the signing of Belgium international forward @bentekechris20? Let us know using #BentekeLFC pic.twitter.com/EUg5GDB60G — Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 22, 2015
Benteke’s 13 league goals and 15 total goals both topped the marks that Steven Gerrard posted for Liverpool in 2014-15. Gerrard had 9 league goals and 13 total goals in his final season at Anfield before being put out to pasture in the MLS.
Offense became a major issue for Liverpool in the final stretch of the season as the club lost five of their last nine Premier League games, were eliminated by Benteke and Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-finals, and were outscored 9-2 in the final two weeks of Steven Gerrard’s storied career at Anfield.
Benteke could very well be the man who can return Liverpool to the Champions League in 2016.
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