Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes it would be a mistake to write off former Reds striker Christian Benteke as a threat.
The Belgium international left Merseyside to sign for Crystal Palace in 2016, and despite being fairly successful in his first season in London, he struggled to make much of an impact last campaign.
The 27-year old scored just three times in 30 Premier League appearances, which unfortunately saw him drop out of Belgium’s World Cup plans.
While Benteke failed to get off the mark against Fulham last weekend, Klopp has warned that it wouldn’t be wise to underestimate him when Liverpool travel to Selhurst Park on Monday night.
As reported by the Liverpool Echo, Klopp had this to say on his former player:
I think everybody who thinks about writing Benteke off makes a big mistake, because his obvious skills are there.
Even if he didn’t score too often last season, he has always opportunities.
It’s a big challenge to defend set-pieces when Christian is around.
He will score goals this season, there’s no doubt about that.
Klopp also praised Palace’s transfer business, in particular managing to hold on to Zaha – something he credits Hodgson for. He continued:
They brought in Ayew who played a really good season with Swansea, even when they were relegated it was maybe the best I’ve seen of him in the last few years.
Palace are a good team. No spectacular transfers – unless you count Zaha as one.
Roy has calmed the whole situation down there in a difficult moment, used all his experience, and now they are playing football.
It’s nice to see the development in a football club.
In the end, we only go there to win the game. We have to make sure they cannot show their quality.
