Christian Benteke to ‘speak with the manager’ to discover Liverpool future after ‘tough season’

Christian Benteke has joined up with his Belgium teammates ahead of the European Championship in France. Francois Lenoir / Reuters

Striker Christian Benteke will talk to manager Jurgen Klopp to find out if he has a future at Liverpool after enduring a difficult first season with the Premier League side.

The Belgian played second fiddle to forwards Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi for most of the campaign since his £32.5 million (Dh 173.9m) move from Aston Villa in the close season under former manager Brendan Rodgers.

Klopp has preferred starting attacking midfielder Roberto Firmino up front when Sturridge and Origi were out injured, pushing Benteke further down the pecking order at Anfield.

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“I signed for five years, I didn’t sign for one year, and now I have to speak with the manager and see his plans for next season. It has been a tough (first season),” Benteke said.

“I knew Liverpool is a massive club with a lot of pressure and a lot of good players, and it has not been easy (to settle in). But I keep going and never doubt myself. I’m now going to focus on the Euros and see what happens next season.”

Benteke, 25, made 15 out of his 29 league appearances from the bench and scored 10 goals, several of them crucial.

“It was not my best season, I know that, but the goals I scored (did not make it) 5-0 or 4-0,” he said.

“It’s not that I’m happy with that — it could be more but I want to look forward.”

Benteke was named in Belgium's 24-man squad last week for the European Championship in France in June, where they play Italy, Ireland and Sweden in the group stages.

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