Benteke: I’ll be a ‘real warrior’ and fight to save Liverpool career

Christian Benteke: Netted the winner at Palace

Christian Benteke: Netted the winner at Palace

Christian Benteke has vowed to “fight till the end” to save his Liverpool career and insists he has never thought about wanting to leave Anfield.

The Belgium international came off the bench to score the last-minute penalty in the 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace on Sunday, his first goal in 14 matches ending a drought which stretched back to December 30.

The penalty verdict was just one of the highly-debatable ones to emerge in the Premier League this weekend, with the decision coming under scrutiny from our Referee Review panel.

And the strike has given the £32.5million summer signing hope he can start to play a bigger part as the return to fitness of Daniel Sturridge, and manager Jurgen Klopp’s preference for compatriot Divock Origi as his second choice, means Benteke has not started in the last six matches.

“It’s not the easiest of situations but you have to be ready,” he told Belgian newspaper HLN.

“In a career you’ll never have only top moments, also your difficult times.

“It’s in the most difficult situations that the real warriors, the tough men and determined guys stand up.

“You have to be up for it. I have to take every chance, every minute the manager gives me: one minute, five minutes, 10 minutes, half an hour.

“I’ve still enough ambition and enough character to fight in difficult moments. I don’t give up easily. I fight till the end.

“In my mind I was never thinking about a move (in January). I didn’t want to leave.”

Benteke on Palace penalty

Christian Benteke: Won Liverpool's controversial penalty

Benteke’s penalty kept him alongside Roberto Firmino, who got the first at Selhurst Park, as the club’s leading scorer with eight – although all the Brazil international’s goals have come in the Premier League.

And the striker insists he had no personal doubts about stepping up for the spot-kick despite him previously failing to score in 2016.

“When the referee pointed to the penalty spot straight away I said I would take the responsibility,” he told liverpoolfc.com.

“No matter what, I had to take it and in my mind I was sure I was going to score.

“I’m very happy to help the team and I have to say everyone worked really hard, especially Divock in attack.

“It was easier for me at the end because they [Palace defenders] were a bit tired.

“Hopefully I’m going to score a lot of goals between now and the end of the season but as long we win that is the main thing.”