The striker could prove to be a weapon for the Reds after bullying the club's defenders during previous meetings, but he will have a big price tag to justify, says Simon Hughes.
While Mamadou Sakho took selfies hugging koala bears from his hotel balcony on Thursday evening in Australia, it is conceivable that just down the hallway, his defensive partner Martin Skrtel was alone, staring out across the Brisbane skyline with relief washing over him like a cool wave.
The defender may have known that Liverpool had finally met Aston Villa's demands for Christian Benteke, thus surely bringing to an end a transfer story that has run almost as long as Raheem Sterling's protracted exit from Anfield.