LIVERPOOL — Liverpool signed Belgium striker Christian Benteke from Premier League rival Aston Villa Wednesday in a 32.5 million pound ($50.7 million) deal to strengthen the club's attack. A week after selling winger Raheem Sterling to Manchester City for 49 million pounds, Liverpool met the release clause in Benteke's contract with Villa and signed the 24-year-old forward to what it called “a long term contract” at Anfield. Benteke, who joined Villa from Genke in 2012 and scored 49 goals in 101 appearances for the Midlands club, passed a medical in London earlier this week and completed the paperwork in Liverpool Wednesday. — AP