Liverpool striker Christian Benteke facing anxious wait over future under Jurgen Klopp

Christian Benteke could be heading for the exit door at Liverpool after failing to impress Jurgen Klopp, according to Jan Molby. The Belgium international has made just six Premier League starts since Klopp replaced Brendan Rodgers at Anfield and has tumbled down the pecking order despite the club's attacking injury crisis.

Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi are both currently out injured but Klopp has tended to turn to Brazilian Roberto Firmino in his attack instead of a genuine out-and-out forward. A sign of Benteke's dwindling fortunes on Merseyside were summed up when he both started and failed to score in the FA Cup third round draw with League Two side Exeter City.

Benteke was again left out from the start as Liverpool drew with Arsenal, but he made a much-needed contribution from the bench as he set up Joe Allen's 90<sup>th minute equaliser. Nevertheless, the £32.5m ($46.6m) signing from Aston Villa is not fulfilling the role he could have envisaged when moving to the club and Molby believes his future is up for debate.

"Christian Benteke will have been worried when he was picked to play against Exeter in the FA Cup," he told the Liverpool Echo. "It was pretty clear then he wouldn't start against Arsenal. Jurgen Klopp has indicated that the way forward is with more mobility up front and with a different type of striker in Roberto Firmino.

"Questions are bound to be asked about where that leaves Benteke going forward. If Klopp wants a different type then he needs to ensure he gets the right plan in place for the summer. You have to ensure whoever you bring in improves things.

The three-time title-winner with Liverpool added: "When Klopp starts buying, I think he'll buy from abroad and then you're asking whether they can settle quickly. Benteke now looks to be the Plan B and that was the case when he came off the bench against Arsenal. We couldn't get through Arsenal so we went more direct and threw the kitchen sink at them."