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Jurgen Klopp has backed Christian Benteke to kick on in his debut Liverpool campaign, but wants expectations to be realistic as the Belgian continues to settle in at Anfield.

With Daniel Sturridge’s return delayed once more because of a foot injury – although the Reds boss has said it is not too serious – Klopp is likely to turn to his £32.5m man in search of goals.

Benteke had a productive night against Bordeaux, winning the penalty which put Liverpool level, and then scoring a well-taken half-volley to win the game. He also looked sharp leading the line, and had a further two goals disallowed.

The striker has now scored three times under the new boss, despite a period of interruption through injury.

The 24-year-old was out with a hamstring injury when the German arrived - later picking up a small knock on his knee - and was not named in a Klopp starting line-up until the trip to Rubin Kazan last month.

His start against the French side was just his third under Klopp, and his manager believes his strong performance was a big boost after a stop-start beginning to his Anfield career.

“Of course it was important,” said Klopp. “When I came here he was injured.

“I know a lot about Christian Benteke because when he was at Aston Villa, we were interested too, everyone was interested.

“A brilliant player but like everyone else, if you are injured and come back, everyone thinks now you have to be the Benteke that he has shown he can be straight away.

“Each person needs time for this so he can get better, better, better.

“Tonight he was good, very hard working, but he did not play too often in this formation so it was not so easy with Roberto [Firmino] to close the lines.

“It wasn’t perfect. We can have a complete new team [and think] ok, s*** we didn’t train together, but with time they can get better and better.”

IN PICS: Liverpool train ahead of Swansea

Klopp's striking dilemma

Benteke now has five goals in 13 appearances – nine of those starts – after his big money move from Aston Villa in the summer.

He is yet to play alongside Sturridge since the Norwich game in September, although it looked likely against Bordeaux until the Englishman’s late withdrawal due to a foot complaint.

Though the scan revealed there was no significant damage, it means Benteke remains Liverpool’s focal point of attack.

The German coach’s reputation in the Bundesliga was helped by his work with his strikers, most notably Robert Lewandowski, who scored 74 league goals in four seasons under Klopp – but 66 of those came in the space of three seasons.

Klopp also brought in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Saint Etienne in 2013, with the Gabonese striker notching 29 in his two Klopp-led years.

Both players, according to Klopp, highlight the importance of patience with strikers – including Benteke.

Klopp said: “I can tell you that I am not sure that Robert Lewandowski could have developed in the Robert Lewandowski of today in England because no one is patient enough to wait for this.”

“He made eight goals in his first year and I don’t know what you would write about him if he made eight goals in one year and played all the time: not good enough, come on, sell him.

“Aubameyang needed three years for this performance at the moment [he has scored 23 in 21 this season], so sometimes you have to work together. It is very important in football.”

With Sturridge’s return date uncertain, Klopp has the choice of Benteke, Roberto Firmino and Divock Origi in the striking positions.

“There is no doubt about the quality of all the strikers that we have, no doubt, now we have to help them to show it better and better,” he added.

“A striker more than any players needs the help of the rest of the team, they cannot take the ball and go through and make a goal so they need fine tuned football, played here, played there, crosses, whatever - give them the ball in the right area, that is what we try and do but there is no doubt to the quality.”

Europa hangover?

Liverpool meet Swansea on Sunday, with Klopp still awaiting his first home win in the Premier League.

It once again raises the question of whether Liverpool can cope with playing in the Europa League on Thursday, and then the league on Sunday, after their successful trip to Kazan was followed by defeat to Crystal Palace at Anfield three weeks ago.

“We will see. That is the answer.,” he said. “Of course it is intensive for every team but as I said last time the first 15 minutes against Crystal Palace were not a problem of the legs.

“It was a problem of all the things around it; everyone was talking that it was so intense. Things you cannot change, you have to ignore.

“What can I do? Shall I play only the young lads on Sunday, give up this game and say to Swansea, come on?

“It is not the best situation [to say] if you want to take the points to Wales, take them.

“We have to fight that is all I can say, it is not an easy job to play every three days that much is clear, but our only job is to win as many games as possible and that is what we tried to do.

“Coutinho could not play and Adam Lallana has a little problem, not the biggest but we have to think about how long. Everyone wants us to come as far as we can.”