Liverpool news: Indignant outcast striker Christian Benteke accuses Jurgen Klopp of ignoring him

Liverpool striker Christian Benteke thinks he is being ignored by Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp. The Belgian star has been a peripheral figure since Klopp became the Liverpool manager last year, and has revealed he "finds it hard to understand" why he has been sidelined.

The 25-year-old centre-forward joined the Liverpool club from Aston Villa under Brendan Rodgers, but has started just five of the last 16 games. The duo were seen exchanging some angry words on the touchline during Liverpool's 3-2 defeat to Southampton at the weekend and Benteke has suggested he could leave the club in the next transfer window.

"In January I didn't want to leave and it's still my desire to succeed at Liverpool," said Benteke, according to Belgium's Sport/Voetbalmagazine. "We'll see at the end of the season."

Benteke has scored only one goal for Liverpool since the turn of the year and he admits the arrival of Klopp has proven to be a turning point in his career at the club. It has previously been claimed Klopp was interested in signing Benteke when he was the manager of Borussia Dortmund. But since Klopp's arrival at Anfield, the German coach has preferred to play the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi in attack.

"Some teammates said that I was lucky with the arrival of Klopp because I certainly would play," Benteke said. "When your coach says he wanted to take you to Dortmund and a little later you sit at the same club and he ignores you it is hard to understand."

Benteke is currently away on international duty with Belgium. He is set to line up for the Red Devils in their re-arranged friendly against Portugal, which has been moved from Brussels to Leiria in the wake of the terrorist attacks yesterday (22 March).