Crystal Palace forward Benteke admits to wanting to get one over former employers Liverpool

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The 26-year-old striker scored a brace against his former side at the weekend.

Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke scores their second goal

Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke claimed he returned to Anfield to prove a point against his former employers during the Eagles’ 2-1 win over Liverpool at the weekend, a game in which Benteke scored twice, as reported by the Eagles’ official website.

Philippe Coutinho’s sublime free kick put Jurgen Klopp’s side ahead, but Benteke twice haunted his former club to give Palace a much needed three points, and their third consecutive win at Anfield.

Benteke failed to live up to expectation at Liverpool following his £32.5m transfer from Aston Villa in 2015, scoring 10 goals in 45 appearances before being sold to Palace last summer for around £32m, as reports Sky Sports.

By contrast, Benteke has 19 in 37 for Palace this season, showing exactly the form that prompted Liverpool to sign him initially. Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, as reported by the Croydon Advertiser, Benteke admitted he felt extra motivation returning to his former side, and wanted to prove his worth.

Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke and Mamadou Sakho celebrate after the match

“I said to myself if I got the chance to score I wouldn’t celebrate it because I respect Liverpool,” Benteke said to Crystal Palace’s official website. What happened when I was here is behind me and I was really looking forward to playing against my old team mates.

“I was motivated I would say. We knew that it was going to be hard to play against them but I think we have to give all the praise to the lads for their hard work.”

Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke celebrates scoring their second goal with team mates

Sam Allardyce’s Palace are now up to 12th in the table, seven points clear of the drop zone, and will dust themselves down again for their game in hand on Wednesday, which is against second placed Tottenham Hotspur.

Liverpool meanwhile, will have to wait until May 1st before they kick a ball in anger next, and will do so away at Watford – though the Reds, currently in third, could be out of the top four by the time kick off commences due to games taking place prior to the trip to Vicarage Road involving teams around them.