Christian Benteke Admits He Regrets Signing for Liverpool in 2015
Former Liverpool striker Christian Benteke has admitted his regret at signing for the club back in 2015 but also believes he wasn't give enough time to prove himself.
The Belgian would score just ten times in 42 appearances for the Reds after being signed for a hefty £32.5m fee from Aston Villa - a year after Luis Suarez's departure to Barcelona.
Jurgen Klopp would then offload Benteke to Crystal Palace in the summer of 2016 for an impressive £27m.
Speaking to talkSPORT (via Birmingham Mail) about his failed move to Anfield, Benteke said: "That was a regret. I don't like that term but I wish I had more time to prove myself because I could have shown a better Benteke."
The 29-year-old was a huge success at Villa Park following a deadline day move from Genk in 2012.
Despite regular battles with injuries, Benteke would score 42 Premier League goals in 89 games for the Villans in a three-year spell - including an impressive 19-goal haul in his debut campaign.
His immense physicality combined with a nifty burst of speed and tremendous aerial ability meant he was a nightmare for opposing defences during his pomp and it wasn't that surprising to see the Reds shell out over £30m to bring Benteke to Merseyside.
And despite a bright start under Brendan Rodgers, the arrival of Klopp in October coincided with the Belgian's demise at Anfield as the German shifted towards the utilisation of Roberto Firmino in a false nine role.
So while he was only given barely a season to prove himself to his new boss, Benteke's skill-set and profile meant he was never a realistic long-term option for Klopp from a systematic perspective. The Belgian, however, did leave the club with one lasting memory; his incredible bicycle-kick against Manchester United at Old Trafford - albeit in defeat.
Since his 2016 departure, Benteke has struggled to rediscover his finest form. Although he scored 15 Premier League goals in his debut campaign at Selhurst Park, the Belgian has since scored just five times for the Eagles in all competitions.