West Ham have cause for concern as they prepare to take on Crystal Palace and in-form striker Christian Benteke, according to Danny Murphy.

Benteke has scored three goals in his last four Premier League games and bagged a fine hat-trick for Belgium during the international break.

The ex-Liverpool man’s first strike was the fastest goal ever recorded in a World Cup qualifier.

After seven games Slaven Bilic’s West Ham are in the relegation zone and will be looking for only their second win at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

Murphy, who made over 200 appearances for Liverpool and spent five seasons at Fulham, told the Evening Standard: “When centre-backs see Benteke in the opposition as they are walking out, they know they will be in a battle.

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“They and their team-mates know that with Benteke on the pitch, Palace have firepower.

“I know Benteke didn’t do so well at Liverpool but that happens. He had one or two bad games but the system did not suit him. He showed what he could do in the Premier League when he helped keep Aston Villa up in 2015.

“Brendan Rodgers signed him for Liverpool, and then Jurgen Klopp came in and didn’t fancy him. But I never heard him moaning, or complaining, and that impressed me.”

The 39-year-old pundit added: “Against a West Ham side who have already conceded 17 times in the League, Benteke and Palace will be full of confidence.

“Before they signed Benteke, Palace had good pace out wide and could stretch teams, but they lacked that physical power that he brings.”

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