Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has expressed his excitement at playing alongside Christian Benteke at club level following the striker's arrival from Aston Villa on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old, who plays with Mignolet in the Belgium national team, signed a long-term deal yesterday after the Reds reportedly agreed to pay his £32.5m release clause.

Benteke, who has scored 42 goals over three seasons, netted five times in six appearances against Liverpool, and Mignolet is relieved that the striker will be on his side in the upcoming campaign.

"I'm very pleased that he's signed," Mignolet told the club's official website. "We all know that he's a very good player and it's another Belgian joining LFC. We had some good duels against each other with Aston Villa. I won't be challenging him anymore, like I did last season, so that's nice.

"He will work hard in training. He's got the physical presence, the ability to hold the ball up front and play with his back to goal. He will make sure that all the other players we've got connect with him, and when he keeps that ball make sure that we can be dangerous on the counter-attack."

Last season, Benteke scored 16 goals in 25 appearances for Villa.