Brendan Rodgers: How this Liverpool outcast can be the next Robert Lewandowski

BRENDAN RODGERS claims Christian Benteke can be Liverpool's Robert Lewandowski.

 

Christian Benteke could be Liverpool's Robert Lewandowski

 

Benteke was Liverpool's marquee summer signing.

He joined from Aston Villa for £32million - the club's second highest outlay behind just Andy Carroll - but has struggled this season.

Benteke, 26, has scored six Premier League goals in 21 appearances (12 starts) but has found himself out of the side under new boss Jurgen Klopp.

The German has preferred the more fluid Roberto Firmino through the middle, but Rodgers believes, given time, Benteke will show his class at Anfield.

"We felt at that time that Christian was up there in terms of goals to games," Rodgers said on BeIN Sport.

 

"We felt that he was someone that we didn’t have in the squad. The problem now is the patience element. There doesn’t seem to be time.

"An example is Robert Lewandowski at Bayern Munich and he wouldn’t have got the patience in the Premier League that he did in the Bundesliga and now look at him.

"Christian over time will show he's top class."