Former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov was in attendance at Anfield to witness a stalemate between Liverpool and Chelsea in Saturday’s early kick-off.
It was a significant fixture for both sides, with Graham Potter yet to find his feet in the Chelsea job and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool bruised by consecutive away defeats to Brentford and Brighton.
Saturday’s match, which marked the half-way point in the season for the Reds, represented the perfect opportunity to claim a statement victory and put to bed the rumbling suggestions of stagnation, but with both sides fearful of a damaging defeat, they settled to share the points in a 0-0 draw.
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Despite an underwhelming on-field performance, Khabib, who holds the record for the longest-reigning UFC Lightweight Champion ever, from April 2018 to March 2021, had not wasted his visit, meeting Liverpool icon Ian Rush MBE after the game, with the Welshman taking to Instagram to share their encounter.
“Welcome to Anfield @khabib_nurmagomedov YNWA true gentleman”
This wasn’t the Russian’s first trip to Merseyside however, with Khabib spotted at the home of the Reds back in October of 2021 for a more scintillating 2-2 draw between Liverpool and Manchester City, in what was a crunch tie in that season’s dramatic fight for the Premier League title.
That day, the mixed martial artist, who hails from the Russian Republic of Dagestan, was supporting the visitors, as he was the guest of former City star Oleksandr Zinchenko, posting on his Instagram account after the match: “It was amazing atmosphere today, but the game was even better. Today I was rooting for Man City. I just love this sport.”
Whilst open about his fondness for Liverpool, perhaps identifying with Klopp’s preference for aggressive, passionate and high-energy football, the 34-year-old claims to only be a true supporter of reigning La Liga and Champions League winners, Real Madrid.
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