Jurgen Klopp held a long meeting with Liverpool’s second most expensive player in history last week in order to get the former Aston Villa striker firing.
And according to Christian Benteke, it’s helped massively – and he’s now ready to help his side achieve the top four target, BBC Sport report.
“We had a ‘man conversation’ and I think it is going to help me and help the team,” said the £32.5m forward who came off the bench to score our winner versus Leicester on Boxing Day.
“I have to run more and I have to be there for my team-mates.
“I spoke with the manager a few days ago about where I can improve and what he is expecting from me,” Benteke continued.
“Sometimes when you are a little bit on the side you try to understand what the manager needs and what he wants, and we had a very good chat.
SEE MORE:
Liverpool boss tells Sakho & Lovren: ‘If you want to kill me, use a knife’
Klopp shoots down Sturridge for tweet, but praises his ‘Oh my God’ talent
“You could see that I showed I understand his message and now I have to keep going like that.”
“Of course I am still a young player and I want to learn. He is the right manager for me to help me in my development.
“I am not saying every player can play like Barcelona but I have been in England a long time so I can adapt.”
The comments from Benteke are positive and show he’s at least going to try and adapt to Klopp’s demands even if they don’t naturally suit him.
Traditionally the powerful 25-year-old thrives off aerial deliveries and has been allowed to wait in the box for service – but at Liverpool with Klopp in charge – that’s not enough.
The forward needs to contribute when we don’t have the ball, and look to make more runs and offer more movement in the final third.
With Divock Origi newly injured and Klopp refusing to rush Daniel Sturridge back, Benteke will get plenty of minutes in the intense run of January fixtures.
He’s scored six goals in total since his move, but it’s now time for him to start seriously adding to that tally.