Some players just seem to have a special habit of scoring against certain opponents, and Marcos Llorente has certainly developed that reputation against Liverpool.
The Atlético Madrid midfielder has scored four times at Anfield and has five Champions League goals against the Reds overall. Now, in an intriguing twist, Liverpool are reportedly considering whether the player who has caused them so many problems could eventually become one of their own.
The latest example came earlier this month when Atlético faced Liverpool in the Champions League. In the 17th minute, Llorente found the net to give Diego Simeone’s side the lead, once again showing his ability to punish the Premier League giants.
His record against Liverpool is particularly striking. Last season, he scored twice during Atlético’s 3-2 defeat at Anfield. Llorente has now scored 10 Champions League goals throughout his career, with five coming against Liverpool. Four of those have arrived on Merseyside.
That remarkable record has reportedly attracted attention at Anfield, with Liverpool among the clubs monitoring Llorente’s situation as he approaches the final months of his Atlético contract. Manchester City and Chelsea are also believed to be interested, while Barcelona and Bayern Munich are reportedly keeping tabs on the experienced Spaniard.
One of Llorente’s biggest attractions is his versatility. The 31-year-old can play in midfield as well as at right-back, giving potential suitors another option when it comes to squad planning and tactical flexibility.
Liverpool and Chelsea are both believed to be assessing players for those positions, while Manchester City are also understood to appreciate the experience and quality Llorente could bring.
Llorente joined Atlético from Real Madrid in 2019 in a €30 million transfer and has since made more than 300 appearances for the Madrid club. He also stepped away from international football with Spain this summer after helping the country win the World Cup.
Despite the growing interest, Atlético have no intention of simply letting him walk away. The club are in talks with Llorente over a new contract and remain hopeful that he will continue his career in Madrid. However, his representatives are aware that several major European clubs are monitoring his situation.
Whether Liverpool or another interested club eventually makes a serious move remains unclear. Convincing Atlético to part with an experienced and important player will not be straightforward, especially while the Spanish side are actively working on a renewal.
Still, Llorente’s contract situation, versatility and proven quality have clearly attracted attention. His extraordinary record against Liverpool only makes the potential story even more interesting.
For Liverpool fans, there would be an obvious twist to the whole situation. A player who has repeatedly tormented them at Anfield could potentially end up wearing the famous red shirt himself. Football can be unpredictable, and the man who has so often been Liverpool’s opponent could one day become their player.
