Christian Benteke Would Trade Bicycle-Kick Goal For LFC Win Vs. Man United

Christian Benteke’s mixed emotions following Liverpool’s latest setback seem entirely appropriate.

On the one hand, Benteke scored a potential “goal of the season” Saturday against Manchester United. On the other hand, his strike came during one of the most disappointing Liverpool defeats in recent memory.

Benteke told LiverpoolFC.com on Monday he’s happy with his wonder-goal, but he would have taken more satisfaction from a win than a goal-of-the-season contender.

“I had some luck and I am happy with it, but we didn’t get the three points,” Benteke said, according to the club’s website. “For my own confidence it was good, (it is) for a striker to score, but at the end of the day I would have rather taken the three points, and so I’m disappointed.”

Liverpool was trailing 2-0 in the 84th minute when Benteke powered his bicycle kick past David de Gea. However, Benteke’s joy and the prospect of a late comeback was short-lived, as Anthony Martial responded by scoring Manchester United’s third goal just two minutes later.

“When I scored, I thought in my mind that maybe we could come back, but they scored to make it 3-1, and that killed our hopes,” Benteke said.

Highs and lows are facts of life for soccer players around the world. That Benteke experienced them on the same evening is somewhat rare, but the towering Liverpool striker is no ordinary player.