Martin Skrtel ready for challenge of in-form Christian Benteke

Brendan Rodgers was at his most cutting when, in the aftermath of an abject FA Cup defeat to Oldham during his first season in charge, he pummelled his players’ attributes with not one but two stinging jabs.

“The boy [Matt] Smith had not scored a goal at home in two years and he came up against two big units at centre-half,” raged Rodgers. “He has come out of university football and he looks like Didier Drogba.

“We have seen it before – last month with Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke who, after scoring twice against us, has disappeared.”

Skrtel was the common denominator in defence for both games and yet, at Wembley on Sunday, Rodgers will be praying Benteke conducts another vanishing act.

If Liverpool are to reach a first major final since 2012, then Skrtel’s high-octane battle with the marauding Belgium forward feels key.

Though he and his team-mates have suffered in the past, the Slovakia international maintains he prefers the collision course which will ensue and the demand on him to go not only toe-to-toe with his foe but head-to-head.

“I prefer to play against the type of striker like him, like Diego Costa,” said Skrtel. “That is better because for me I don’t want to chase the little guys!

“Obviously I don’t want to say it is easier for me, but I enjoy that more. I’m tall as well and try to be strong. When we go to the challenge like 50-50, we see who is better in that moment.

“He is playing well at the moment. After they changed the manager, they are doing well. He is always difficult to play against but we played against him once this season and we could handle him. I just hope we can do that again.

“He is the type of player you have to expect a physical battle from because he is big and strong. He is quick, so it will be difficult, but we are ready for that and we will do everything possible to stop him.

“It is not just him, there are many more players. The main thing is to play our game and try to win in our way.”

On being reminded Benteke, who was considered by Liverpool as a solution to their striking problems last summer before being overlooked as he continued to recover from an Achilles injury, has amassed eight goals in six games for Villa since Tim Sherwood replaced Paul Lambert, Skrtel smiles.

“It’s not bad to be honest,” he said. “We are not worried because we know our quality and our strength. We respect the other team, but we are not worried about them.”

Skrtel played in a behind-closed-doors game with Steven Gerrard against a Shrewsbury Under-23s side on Monday in order to stretch his legs after being retrospectively handed a three-match suspension following a clash with Manchester United’s David de Gea last month.

His decision to post a picture of three clowns on Instagram after an independent panel imposed the ban betrayed his frustration at seeing his season interrupted by a flashpoint he maintains was not malicious. “He was sliding and I just stood on him,” he said. “That’s it.”

Skrtel prefers to look forward rather than back, and does not shy away from the importance of Liverpool making good their potential.

Last season’s title challenge, January’s Capital One Cup semi-finals with Chelsea and now a tete a tete with Villa reveal Rodgers’ squad to be contenders for the major honours.

Regardless of whether Skrtel returns in a back three or a four-man rearguard, whether or not Gerrard also steps back into the spotlight, Liverpool must now cross the line or the tag of ‘nearly men’ will threaten to stick.

“Every single footballer plays for the trophies,” said Skrtel at the launch of Liverpool’s new home strip for 2015-16 manufactured by New Balance. “The semi-final against Chelsea was unlucky for us because we were doing well, we created the chances but just couldn’t score.

“Obviously it was the Capital One Cup, some people don’t take it seriously, but it is still a trophy, and we were doing everything to win it. Unfortunately we couldn’t. Now is our other chance.

“A trophy can be a motivation for the future. Not just the young players here, but everybody in the club. We had a great season last year, finished second in the league, and if we can get a trophy this season that is going to be great for us.”