In football, it takes only a second to put the ball in the back of the net. Just seven had past by the time Christian Benteke fired Belgium into a 1-0 lead at Gibraltar during the recent international break as the striker put the Red Devils on the front foot in their eventual 6-0 win. Benteke went on to bag a hat trick in the victory to further consolidate his place as Belgium’s starting striker.
Having scored more goals for club and country in his last four appearances (5) than he had in his previous 36 (4), it marks a fine return to form for the player. When Liverpool spent big to secure Benteke’s signature last summer, it was seen as a somewhat puzzling move by the Reds. Brendan Rodgers and later Jurgen Klopp favoured an approach that did not play to the frontman’s strengths, which ultimately saw his time at Anfield cut short after a solitary season. Yet, to say his time on Merseyside was an unmitigated disaster would be harsh.
Only Roberto Firmino (10) scored more league goals than Benteke (9) of all Liverpool players last season, while a Premier League goal every 168.9 minutes was actually a respectable return. Rather, his arrival was an attempt to fit a square peg in a round hole. In the right team playing a system to his strengths, both parties would profit significantly and Crystal Palace are now the beneficiaries. He is the club’s highest rated player (7.63) and is the Eagles’ top scorer with three league goals to his name.
Considering last season’s top goalscorers - Connor Wickham, Yohan Cabaye, Scott Dann and Yannick Bolasie - each scored five goals apiece for Alan Pardew’s side, the need for a prolific frontman was vital during the off-season. Indeed, Benteke’s arrival and subsequent recent form is exactly what the club required in their bid to improve on a disappointing campaign. The main reasoning for this has been that Pardew has implemented a game plan to accentuate Benteke’s best qualities.
The Belgian excels in the air and is winning more aerial duels per game (8.4) than any other Premier League player this season. Furthermore, no player has had more headed attempts than Benteke (10), with the London side maximising strengths. It’s little wonder then that Palace have attempted more crosses from open play (153) than any other top-flight team this term, with Andros Townsend (55) topping the list for players.
Townsend, a fellow summer arrival, has started four of seven Premier League games on the left flank, with Pardew instructing the England international to get to the byline before putting the ball into the box. Yet, even when the wideman is deployed on his favoured right flank, Townsend is still looking to pick out Benteke as requested by the manager, even if he is averaging more shots per game (3.4) than any other Palace player. Indeed, he is actually attempting marginally more crosses per match from the right (8) than he is the left (7.8).
Considering Palace parted ways with a club-record £27m to secure Benteke’s services, it’s little shock Pardew is demanding his players exploit the striker’s aerial capability. Importantly for the player, though, is that the manager’s style is proving just how effective a striker he still is. “I want Christian to get to the level where he was prior to Liverpool. He didn't play enough there, but he'll get a flow of games here,” Pardew said following Palace’s 2-0 EFL Cup win over Blackpool in August.
That is most certainly the case at Selhurst Park, with Benteke starting each of the last five league games and, with that run, he is building up both form and confidence. Ahead of a hugely winnable welcome of West Ham on Saturday, the 25-year-old should be looking to maintain his recent good run. The Hammers have failed to win their last five league games, losing four, and while Slaven Bilic masterminded a comprehensive 3-1 win in this fixture last season; the Croat and his team is expected to struggle when they make the trip to south London on Saturday. Having been linked with a move for Benteke over the summer, West Ham's goalscoring woes would have been well and truly eased had they convinced the frontman to snub Palace for the Hammers.
With Benteke leading the charge and the Palace attack clicking into gear, West Ham must be wary that their poor run will continue. Benteke may have a disappointing record against the Hammers - he has scored one goal in eight meetings with the east London side - but his recent performances suggest the Belgium star will continue his good goalscoring form as the Crystal Palace Player of the Month returns to his best.
Is Benteke back to his best for both club and country? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
