Why this World Cup winner named his dog ‘Anfield’ before scoring there again

Liverpool secured a 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid in their opening UEFA Champions League match, with World Cup winner Marcos Llorente playing a crucial role. The Spanish full-back scored the game's lone goal in extra-time, continuing his impressive streak of five Champions League goals against Liverpool at Anfield, surpassing former Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema's record of four.

Llorente's connection with Anfield began in 2020, when he scored a critical goal during a 1-1 draw against Atletico at the stadium. The match was particularly significant as Liverpool, under Jurgen Klopp, had triumphed in the Champions League the previous season after overcoming a 3-0 deficit against Barcelona in the semi-finals.

Llorente's second goal at Anfield in 2020 not only secured the draw but also ultimately led to Liverpool's exit from the competition. Days later, as Spain entered lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Llorente shared a photo of his new dog named Anfield, a tribute to the stadium. After a five-year wait, Llorente returned to Anfield and once again scored twice in a thrilling match, this time resulting in a 3-2 victory for Liverpool.