Gallery: Klopp, Sturridge and co meet Olympic world-record holder at Melwood
Melwood played host to a special guest on Friday as Olympic world-record holder and lifelong Liverpool fan Wayde van Niekerk dropped by the club's training facility - and our photographer was on hand to capture his visit.
The South African sprinter was greeted by the likes of Jürgen Klopp, Daniel Sturridge, Jordan Henderson and Philippe Coutinho before watching the morning training session and being given a behind-the-scenes tour of the complex.
Van Niekerk captured the attention of the globe during the 2016 Rio Olympics when he won gold in the men’s 400m and set a new world-record in the process with a time of 43.03 seconds.
He did so just hours after watching the Reds beat Arsenal 4-3 on television on the opening day of the season.
The 24-year-old fulfilled a lifelong dream earlier this week when he attended his first Liverpool game, taking a place among the away fans at Goodison Park in the dramatic 1-0 victory for Klopp’s side.
Van Niekerk will also take in a maiden Anfield visit next week when he watches Liverpool’s clash with Stoke City.
Log on to Liverpoolfc.com on Saturday morning for an exclusive interview with Wayde van Niekerk on his love for the Reds and his experience of meeting the first-team squad at Melwood.
