Graeme Souness questions Liverpool signing

Graeme Souness says Christian Benteke isn’t the type of striker that will score 30 goals a season for Liverpool.

The Reds forward was omitted from their starting line-up for the League Cup semi-final first leg at Stoke City after he failed to find the net in a 2-0 loss at West Ham United in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

Benteke had scored in his two previous Premier League games ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Upton Park after the Belgium international netted winners in a 1-0 victories over Leicester City and Sunderland.

However, former Reds captain Souness, who three European Cups during his career at the Merseyside club, believes the £32.5m summer signing isn’t as good a goal threat as injured striker Daniel Sturridge.

“I think so. He isn’t alone,” Souness told Sky Sports.

“He is a centre-forward. Centre-forwards rely on service their getting.

“He hasn’t helped himself. If you’re in a LFC team, you’re expected to get 30 goals. He’s not going to do that. Sturridge isn’t fit and he would be a goal threat.

“Apart from Benteke, who else is going to get their goals?”

Benteke is Liverpool’s second most-expensive signing behind Andy Carroll after his £32.5m move from Aston Villa to Anfield in the summer.

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The towering Belgian has scored six times in 17 Premier League games so far this season.