Kolo Toure says £32.5m striker can turn Liverpool into genuine Premier League title contenders

Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

9 years ago

Experienced Liverpool defender Kolo Toure believes the imminent arrival of Christian Benteke can help recreate the superb 2013-14 campaign for the club.

The Reds came within a whisker of being crowned champions of England for the first time in over two decades a couple of seasons ago as they led the table going into the final three games but were eventually pipped to the title by Manchester City.

That season the club had no European football but more importantly they had Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge fit and firing as the pair managed to score 52 league goals between them.

However, following the departure of the Uruguayan to Barcelona last summer and the numerous injury problems to Sturridge, the Reds struggled as a result and as a whole only managed to reach that number of goals on the final day of the last season in a humiliating 6-1 defeat away at Stoke City.

Manager Brendan Rodgers has set about making his side more of a goal threat ahead of the new campaign and has already strengthened his attacking options with the signings of Danny Ings and Roberto Firmino.

Benteke is expected to complete his £32.5million move to Liverpool from Aston Villa on Wednesday [via Mirror Sport] and his arrival can turn the Reds into title challengers according to Toure:

“Benteke is a great player,” the Ivorian told the Liverpool Echo.

“It’s much better to have him on my side than have to play against him.He’s so strong and powerful – we all know about his qualities.”

“He’s a goalscorer but his mental strength is very important.”

“The club has done some unbelievable business this summer and it’s going to be a big season for us.”

“If we are strong mentally then I don’t think anyone can beat us with the team the manager has built,” Toure added.

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