Marcos Llorente is in the best time of his Atletico Madrid career and he'll waint to continue that on Sunday when he takes to the field against Athletic Club in a very different position.
He may have taken Rodri's No.14 but Diego Simeone identified as soon as the pre-season tour of the United States that Llorente would not replace him.
Almost a year later, Llorente has found his role as a second striker.
It was July 24 against Chivas when Llorente made a basic error and was sent off that Simeone had his doubts and began to look for other ways to use his talents.
He still had another chance in that role against Juventus in Stockholm in another friendly, with Thomas Partey having just returned from the African Cup of Nations.
A string of poor passes frustrated El Cholo and he put Koke back into that role to move Llorente forward, with Thomas coming on later.
Without being able to displace Thomas, Saul or Koke, Llorente kept working and Simeone gave him chances out wide, scoring his first goal from the right in February.
His fitness can be exploited and he isn't as relied upon in build-up play, and Anfield showed why Simeone was right to back him.
He doesn't just bring lungs, but his exuberance was decisive to start counter-attacks and run tired legs ragged.
The new Marcos Llorente is here, and under Simeone it's no coincidence.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com