UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov was in attendance at Anfield for Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.
However, despite previously claiming to like the Reds, the star, who is a Real Madrid fan, was backing Pep Guardiola’s visitors on this occasion.
Sat in the stands with City’s Ukraine international Oleksandr Zinchenko, Khabib was treated to a feast of football as Liverpool were pegged back twice.
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Sadio Mane opened the scoring on the hour mark but Phil Foden equalised ten minutes later. Mo Salah then put Jurgen Klopp’s side ahead on 76 minutes with a stunning solo effort before Kevin De Bruyne netted for City and both teams had to settle for a point each.
Khabib seemed to enjoy the spectacle and, posting a series of videos on Instagram, said: “It was amazing atmosphere today, but the game was even better.
“Today I was rooting for Man City. I just love this sport.”
On Saturday, the 33-year-old was also at Old Trafford to see Manchester United and Everton play out a 1-1 draw, Andros Townsend scoring for the Toffees to cancel out Anthony Martial’s first-half strike.
Khabib posed with a 'Khabib 7' shirt at the game and was also pictured talking to Sir Alex Ferguson, Usain Bolt and Patrice Evra.
In 2019, Khabib recalled watching Liverpool’s famous comeback against Milan in the final of the 2005 Champions League.
The former fighter, who would have been 16 at the time, told BT Sport : "I think I am not only a fan, I think I know [football] history.
"English Premier League, for me, is the best league in the world. I follow everything."
"I like Liverpool," he added. "I remember when I was a kid in 2005 when I watched Liverpool versus Milan, in Dagestan. We had a big screen TV on the beach, thousands of people [were] watching this match.
"And when they were losing after the first half 3-0, and I really believed, 'They have to come back, they have to come back' because I liked the team.
"It was Milan Baros, [Vladimir] Smicer, [John Arne] Riise, [Sami] Hyypia. I remember this. Stevie Gerrard!
"It was a very good team, but right now they have a very good team too. I watch all the Champions League matches and Liverpool. But I'm a big fan of Real Madrid."
"But I like English Premier League, even if the worst teams are playing, they have the best games."
