Christian Benteke vows to ‘fight until the end’ to save Liverpool career

Liverpool striker Christian Benteke has vowed to "fight till the end" to save his Anfield career.

The Belgium international came off the bench to score the last-minute penalty in the 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace on Sunday.

His spot kick was Benteke’s first goal in 14 matches, ending a drought which stretched back to December 30.

The 25-year-old has not started in the last six matches, with the return to fitness of Daniel Sturridge and manager Jurgen Klopp's preference for compatriot Divock Origi as his second choice meaning Benteke has played a back-seat role so far this year.

But his winner against Palace has given the £32.5million summer signing hope he can start to play a bigger part for the Reds.

"It's not the easiest of situations but you have to be ready," he told Belgian newspaper HLN.

"In a career you'll never have only top moments, also your difficult times.

"It's in the most difficult situations that the real warriors, the tough men and determined guys stand up.

";You have to be up for it. I have to take every chance, every minute the manager gives me: one minute, five minutes, 10 minutes, half an hour.

"I've still enough ambition and enough character to fight in difficult moments. I don't give up easily. I fight till the end.

"In my mind I was never thinking about a move (in January). I didn't want to leave."

Benteke's penalty kept him alongside Roberto Firmino, who got the first at Selhurst Park, as the club's leading scorer with eight - although all the Brazil international's goals have come in the Premier League.

And the striker insists he had no personal doubts about stepping up for the spot-kick despite him previously failing to score in 2016.

"When the referee pointed to the penalty spot straight away I said I would take the responsibility," he told liverpoolfc.com.

"No matter what, I had to take it and in my mind I was sure I was going to score.

"I'm very happy to help the team and I have to say everyone worked really hard, especially Divock in attack.

"It was easier for me at the end because they [Palace defenders] were a bit tired.

"Hopefully I'm going to score a lot of goals between now and the end of the season but as long we win that is the main thing."