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| Benteke (left) revealed Eden Hazard (right) wished him well after his move from Aston Villa |
AMONG the numerous text messages Christian Benteke received congratulating him on a move to Liverpool, there is one in particular that sticks in his mind.
It was sent by Chelsea's mercurial Eden Hazard who offered his well-wishes before immediately laying down a challenge from the champions.
As an insight into the step up in standard, the expectation and pressure that now swirls around Benteke following his £32.5million move from Aston Villa, the dispatch from a Belgium team-mate and friend, but someone he must now consider a rival, neatly encapsulates everything.
"He is happy for me," said Benteke with a smile. "He said now I have a chance to win and to beat him.
"I think we have a chance. We have a good squad. It is up to us now to show them."
It is a sign of the times at Anfield that title talk is considered pie-in-the-sky following last season's excesses, but Benteke will still find the coming months unforgiving.
A 'to do' list which currently encompasses house-hunting and acclimatising to his new surroundings, will broaden from the moment he steps out on the pitch against Stoke on Sunday.
He must provide the focal point Liverpool lacked last term, justify his lofty price-tag by maintaining his ratio of a goal every two games since arriving in England, propel his new team back into the Champions League and allow a club, currently shorn of heroes, to dream again.
Benteke accepts the responsibility without quibble.
"I believe whatever level I play at I will score goals," said the striker. "I don't want to be arrogant, but since I came to England I've proved I wasn't a bad player.
"I can produce the goals, but I am not alone here. That is the good thing. I have players behind me and around me.
"It is not about money. I knew if I joined a big club I would have some pressure, so I am ready for this challenge. I will work hard and not worry about things.
"The pressure will bring the best out of me.
"I am a player who came here to improve myself and to be bigger than before. I am not coming in here saying I will be a hero to the fans.
"Of course, I would appreciate it if they love me, but it is not my main goal. If I do well, then everyone will be happy. It is up to me."
There is a shyness to Benteke betrayed by the staccato nature of his answers which jars with his image as human wrecking ball. Liverpool supporters might recognise the contradiction.
In last season's FA Cup semi-final he continued to wage war on Brendan Rodgers' ragged defence only to find himself anchored on the periphery in the final itself and neither able to rouse himself nor his team-mates.
Liverpool need the beast inside their new No9 to reveal itself, starting at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday when thoughts will drift back to last season's 6-1 drubbing - a result which even left Benteke "shocked" when he spotted the scoreline following Villa's own final-day defeat against Burnley.
This brings into focus how Rodgers will harness Benteke's skills.
The player is loath to divulge the details of his conversations with the Liverpool manager but he is more open on former manager Tim Sherwood's assertion that he will not thrive on Merseyside because they will not supply enough crosses into the penalty area to exploit his aerial strength.
"I don't believe that and I told him," said Benteke, 24. "I said football has changed, football now is modern and I can adapt. It is not just about crossing.
"I can score normal goals, too. I told him I am not afraid about it. If Liverpool bought me, then they know how to use me.
"That is why I came here and I can show I can play with my feet, too."
The chest trap and thrilling volley Benteke dispatched into the top corner on his debut in the friendly with Swindon last weekend was an instant indication of that intent.
Liverpool should benefit from his presence. Not least because defenders such as Martin Skrtel, driven to distraction by Benteke in the past when he scored five goals in six games in a reign of terror against Liverpool, can watch others try and tame him.
"I told them we won't fight like we used to do," said Benteke. "We will fight together any opponents."
Rodgers, aware his signing must fire, will look forward to that.
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