Liverpool transfer news: Christian Benteke would have avoided Anfield move if he knew he would not be priority of coach

Liverpool striker Christian Benteke has admitted that he would never have moved to Anfield if he knew that he had to spend the majority of the time on the bench and not as his manager's first choice striker. The 25-year-old has started in only 12 Premier League games this season, which includes just one start in this calendar year.

The Belgium international was signed by former Reds manager Brendan Rodgers from Aston Villa. The Merseyside club sacked the Northern Irishman and replaced him with Jurgen Klopp and the 25-year-old has seen his first team appearances being limited since the German manager took charge at the club.

Benteke claims he is feeling left out by Klopp after limited chances under the former Borussia Dortmund manager's guidance. West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan has admitted his side's interest in signing the out-of-favour striker after the end of the ongoing campaign to bolster their attacking division.

"I was obviously happy [with the move to Liverpool], I joined a great club," Benteke told Belgium's Sport/Voetbalmagazine, as quoted by talkSPORT.

"I thought that finally I could find stability, settle for a duration at a big club. I knew I could face difficult months but, in the long run, it would work.

"I played two full matches in a row since Klopp [arrived]. I went up against Leicester, I scored, I followed up with a game and a goal against Sunderland and then we lost to West Ham and since then I have been discarded.

"Even my father was annoyed at first by my status as a reservist and told me that I can do nothing.

"I spoke with [Belgium team-mates] Eden [Hazard] and with Marouane [Fellaini], they all gave me the same answer: when a coach does not count on you, you cannot change anything.

"The thing that is annoying is that I had prepared to transfer to Liverpool. I never would have signed if I had not been the priority of the coach."