Marcos Llorente has trolled Liverpool – by naming his new dog ‘Anfield’ in honour of the two goals he scored there to knock the Reds out of the Champions League.
Llorente turned a finely poised last-16 tie in Atletico’s favour when he pounced on a dreadful clearance from Liverpool keeper Adrian.
Atletico had travelled to Anfield with a 1-0 lead from the first leg, but saw their advantage cancelled out by Georginio Wijnaldum, taking the tie into extra time.
Midfielder Llorente seized on Adrian’s mistake to fire his side ahead on aggregate seven minutes into the extra period, then added another before teammate Alvaro Morata completed the scoring to send the European Cup holders crashing out of the competition.
Now, in a cheeky dig at Jurgen Klopp’s side, Llorente has revealed that he has named one of his new puppies after Liverpool’s home – the famous venue for so many European triumphs including last season’s stunning comeback win over Barcelona.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
While at home in his native Spain on day 22 of a coronavirus lockdown, Llorente posted an innocuous-looking picture of one of his pugs looking out of a window – with the caption beneath saying “Anfield viendo la vida pasar (Anfield watching life go by).”
Llorente said after the win at Anfield that he and his teammates had faith they could knock out last season’s European champions.
“We knew we were going to have our chances,” said the 25-year-old.
“Faith is part of Atletico Madrid’s DNA, you always have to believe. I remembered all my family, all those who have supported me at all times and all my teammates.”
Having earned a place in the Champions League quarter-finals, Llorente and his teammates will hope Europe’s domestic leagues can be completed so that continental competitions can be resumed, with football currently on hold amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are sweating on when they can return to action in the Premier League, having amassed a whopping 25-point lead in search of their first top-flight title in 30 years.
