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Kop legend Jamie Carragher believes Christian Benteke faces a battle to get back in the Liverpool team following the impact of Danny Ings.

The £32.5million Belgian striker sat out Saturday’s 3-2 league victory over Aston Villa with a hamstring injury and has a race against time to be fit for Sunday’s Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

In his absence, Ings made his first home league start alongside match-winner Daniel Sturridge and produced an impressive performance against Villa having scored in his two previous outings against Norwich and Carlisle.

“There are great signs in that partnership between Sturridge and Ings,” Carragher said.

“After Danny Ings came on against Norwich in the second half last week the performance was much better, Liverpool created chances.

“Sturridge’s finishing deserves the accolades but a lot of it is coming from Danny Ings pressing people, running in behind and making the game quicker. That’s where the chances are coming from.

“With the performance he put in at the weekend and the way Danny Ings is playing, when Christian Benteke comes back it will be difficult for Brendan Rodgers to get Benteke in the team. Danny Ings has made a big difference for Liverpool.”

Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports, said that Sturridge’s comeback could have a huge impact on Liverpool’s season.

The England international marked his second appearance after five months out following hip surgery with a classy double against Villa.

“Watching Daniel Sturridge in the first half he looked like a player just coming back to fitness,” he added.

“But in the second half he came alive. He makes a difference at that end of the pitch.

“If Liverpool can get him fully fit and firing, I’d say that there’s only really Sergio Aguero who is a better striker than him in the league.

“If he can stay fit and get back to the Sturridge we saw when Liverpool near won the league then there’s only Aguero you would have ahead of him.”