Why Palace suits Benteke

With Christian Benteke completing a move to Crystal Palace, Adam Bate examines the numbers that suggest the powerful striker could have belatedly found the perfect club for his talents.

“There’s no point going to a club where they don’t cross the ball.” Tim Sherwood’s view on Christian Benteke’s proposed transfer to Liverpool last summer might have been seen at the time as the bluster of a man attempting to hold onto Aston Villa’s best player, but a year on and the striker himself might well feel his former boss had a point.

After a stuttering season at Anfield in which the man who signed him, Brendan Rodgers, was sacked eight games into the campaign, Benteke soon found himself out of Jurgen Klopp’s plans. In the end, he started 14 Premier League games. The good news for Benteke is that the reasons for his problems at Liverpool could now be a source of optimism for success at Crystal Palace.

Alan Pardew certainly seems to have identified the issue. “For us, it’s about getting him back to doing what he does best,” said Pardew. “I think his style of play and the way he feeds off crosses – we’re the top crossing team in the Premier League bar one, I think – with the wide players we’ve got he’s going to enjoy that.”

The numbers are indeed encouraging. Palace attempted 689 crosses from open play last season, second only to Southampton and 73 more than the third team on the list. When dead-ball situations are included, Palace tried to put the ball into the box …

continue reading in source www.skysports.com