Knee injury puts Benteke in doubt for Chelsea clash
Christian Benteke is a doubt for Liverpool’s trip to Chelsea after his fledgling Liverpool career was once again disrupted by injury.
The Belgium international (below) scored a magnificent header in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Southampton and looked poised to become the focal point for Jurgen Klopp, having spent much of the last month sidelined with a hamstring problem.
Benteke, however, came out of the game with damage to his medial ligament following a clash with Victor Wanyama, and as a result will not be risked for tonight’s Capital One Cup clash with Bournemouth.
It is not believed to be a serious issue but Benteke, who arrived amid much fanfare this summer for £32million, has had a scan and will be closely monitored in the coming days to determine whether he can be included for the game at Stamford Bridge.
The setback, even if it is just a minor one, could not have come at a worse time for the player or his manager. Benteke has scored three times since his move from Aston Villa, and Klopp lost Danny Ings in just his third training session as manager after he suffered a rupture of his anterior cruciate ligament. Daniel Sturridge has yet to play for the German because of a knee problem that continues to cause anxiety. Sturridge has not trained in recent days and, like Benteke, he is facing a race against time to be fit for Chelsea. Klopp reported yesterday that Sturridge still has fluid on his knee and confirmed again that no unnecessary gambles will be taken with his recovery. ‘I know about his history with injuries of course,’ said Klopp. ‘But I have no experience with these things with him especially. That’s another thing I have to learn and see. For sure, if he is back he has to train. If he can train he can play and before that we don’t have to talk about this.’
In the absence of the main strikers, a chance could open up for £ 29million signing Roberto Firmino to press his claims.
‘When I heard Liverpool took him I thought “good choice”,’ said Klopp, referring to his arrival from hoffenheim ‘he needs time when he came in. You saw he’s strong with the ball, physically strong, fast in a good football way with the ball. he is an important player for us.’
Liverpool, meanwhile, were forced to evacuate Anfield yesterday after a man on a stadium tour went missing inside the ground. Police were called and an extensive search of Anfield was conducted. Six police cars were at the scene last night and sniffer dogs were called in.
A police statement read: Merseyside Police can confirm that a search of Anfield football stadium is currently under way after the club raised an alert earlier this afternoon. ‘At 3.05pm, the club reported to Merseyside Police that the ground had been evacuated after a man who had been on a tour was unaccounted for and believed to be in the stadium. The club cannot guarantee that the man has left the ground and therefore a search of the ground is underway.’