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Benteke had nine shots without scoring as Liverpool crashed out. AP/Press Association Images

‘90% of strikers have times like this' - Klopp defends misfiring Benteke after cup exit

Striker’s barren spell now stands at 11 games.

JURGEN KLOPP HAS defended Christian Benteke’s form after the Belgian extended his barren run in Liverpool’s defeat to West Ham in the FA Cup last night.

Angelo Ogbonna scored in the last minute of extra-time to seal a 2-1 victory for the Hammers at Upton Park after Philippe Coutinho’s clever free-kick had cancelled out Michail Antonio’s first-half opener.

But it was another frustrating night for Benteke, who managed nine shots against the Hammers but constantly fluffed his lines, extending his spell without a goal to 11 games.

“Ask 80 to 90% of all strikers in the world – high-quality, low-quality, no-quality – they will tell you they’ve had times like this,” said Klopp.

It’s like it is and you have to carry on. You have to go on, there’s no other situation. All the people in the world want the easy goal, but then the easy goal doesn’t help, so you have to play, you have to improve, you have to want to do all the things – that’s how it always is. It’s no different for Christian.

“But tonight, it was a really good game without the maximum finish, but he did a lot, he worked a lot, so it was a big step – that’s good for us and that’s good for him.”

Jason McAteer: I probably would have walked out with the Liverpool fans

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    Mute Irishoversea
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    Feb 10th 2016, 9:06 AM

    80%/90% of strikers in the world don’t cost £32.5 million..

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    Mute Teddington
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    Feb 10th 2016, 10:46 AM

    Benteke did not set his transfer fee, it is completely irrelevant to everything. I actually thought he played pretty well last night, with some confidence he scores a bucket load last night.

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Feb 10th 2016, 11:13 AM

    Our Randolph did his bit – looking good for the Euros!

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    Mute Gordon McCabe
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    Feb 10th 2016, 12:51 PM

    For a striker of his quality too he’s not being played consistently enough. At Villa he was the star man allowed to do what he wants on the pitch well in week out. At Liverpool the opposite is happening. Although I still think him and another forward playing off him could be something awesome.

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    Mute Mick Power
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    Feb 10th 2016, 9:22 AM

    Talking of strikers must be a miracle Sturridge and Carroll both managed to be on a pitch at the same time

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    Mute Liam Kidney
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    Feb 10th 2016, 10:47 AM

    I suppose Liverpool can now concentrate on the league……..cup

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    Mute Declan Snow
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    Feb 10th 2016, 9:24 AM

    He can’t be at the club next year. He has to be part of the clear out. We’ll lose a good bit of money on him but it’s a sacrifice that must be done. Some of the shots he’s missed in recent months have been pathetic

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    Mute Nucky
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    Feb 10th 2016, 10:12 AM

    I hope they give him a new contract extention like Mignolet

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    Mute Gerry Campbell
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    Feb 10th 2016, 9:11 AM

    After that fella went on strike up at Aston villa, downed tools and refused to play or train , because he didn’t like his boss , any team that was stupid enough to employ him afterwards, deserve all the get, which in this case isn’t very much.

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    Mute John Bradish
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    Feb 10th 2016, 11:00 AM

    Don’t recall that happening Gerry?

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    Mute Fred west
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    Feb 10th 2016, 1:57 PM

    Did this happen before you washed your face and ate your cornflakes Gerry ?

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    Mute Gerry Campbell
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    Feb 10th 2016, 2:11 PM

    Oh ya, fell out with Paul lambert , twas the beginning of the end for the manager.

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    Mute Gerry Campbell
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    Feb 10th 2016, 2:13 PM

    You two geniuses should be on that panel that buy the players on merseyside, you know as much as they do, it seems. Agents dream.

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    Mute John Bradish
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    Feb 10th 2016, 2:17 PM

    Happen to be a Villa fan Gerry, also don’t recall taking a personal swipe at you? I can confirm however your point above re Benteke is wildly inaccurate

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    Mute Fred west
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    Feb 10th 2016, 2:27 PM

    Your making no sense Gerry.Maybe its time to admit you haven’t a clue about what your talking about !

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    Mute Gerry Campbell
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    Feb 10th 2016, 4:31 PM

    Well check it out , preferably with an adult, and he did the exact same at Genk, as well , his previous club. Like I said ud be an agents dream.

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    Mute John Bradish
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    Feb 10th 2016, 4:44 PM

    Like I said Gerry, wildly inaccurate. Don’t worry though I have had a browse over some of your other musings on here and I understand your condition, let it go man…

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    Mute Paul Dunne
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    Feb 10th 2016, 7:27 PM

    stick up a link to the story gerry shit or get off the pot.

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