Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has backed his side's former striker Christian Benteke to continue his good form for new club Crystal Palace, and thinks he may be motivated to get one over on the Reds when the two clubs meet on Saturday.
Benteke was sold on by Liverpool a mere year after he was initially signed from Aston Villa, with the Belgian failing to nail down a regular place in the club's first team. He signed for Palace in a club-record deal at the start of this campaign, and has moved from strength to strength since.
Saturday's clash will be the first time Benteke has faced his old club since the move, and Klopp insisted ahead of the game, according to theGuardian, that he knows all about Benteke's quality.
He said:When you have a player like Christian in your squad, of course we knew about his quality.
But every player needs the space to perform, to develop and to show things. For different reasons we couldn't give him all the time (he needed), you lose a little bit of confidence, you feel pressure.
We couldn't change it and I thought, and I'm pretty sure Christian thinks the same, it made sense. He made the transfer so, for Crystal Palace, what a player. We know it best because we had him all the time in training and in all moments he showed always his quality.
It's never really nice because there's a lot of expectation from both sides when you make a transfer like this. But in my job I can't always be nice. I have to make a decision for the club and for the team.
Klopp fears Liverpool could suffer against Benteke. @kellysheroesmd https://t.co/Xp8h8ahfCO #LFC #CPFC
Christian is a great player and a wonderful person. I have nothing bad to say about him. Unfortunately now he plays for Crystal Palace and now we have to face them. It will be really difficult.
He has given them a real boost of quality. Will he feel like he has a point to prove? I have no idea. You would have to ask him. It's not the first time in my life that I've played against a player who was in my team the previous season.�
Liverpool could move to the top of the Premier League with a win and if rivals Arsenal and Manchester City drop points in their respective fixtures this weekend.
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