Liverpool fans shocked as £4m star shines on Tuesday in Champions League game

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Sebastien Coates got himself a surprise brace for Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday night in a 4-1 win over Besiktas – and Liverpool fans have reacted.

Back in 2011, a 20-year-old Coates joined Liverpool in an understated deal from Uruguayan side Nacional. But he struggled to make his mark.

In four seasons at Anfield, the 43-time Uruguay international managed just 24 appearances for the Reds. He was loaned to Sunderland in 2014-15.

But it did not get much better on Wearside. Just 32 appearances later and he joined Sporting on a loan-to-buy deal, which became permanent in 2017.

It was a match made in heaven for Coates, who remains with the Portuguese champions until now. He is the club’s captain.

Clocking up his 250th appearance for Sporting last night, he was tasked with preventing Besiktas from scoring – a crucial Champions League clash.

However, not many would have predicted the impact he had at the other end of the pitch – scoring a brace, taking his tally to 23 in 250 games.

What are Liverpool fans saying about Coates brace for Sporting?

It is certainly a surprise for Liverpool fans to see the defender, who cost Sporting just £4million (Roker Report), to be shining at this level.

During his Liverpool stint, Coates was lacking experience, needing game time. Now, he has become one of the best outside Europe’s top five leagues.

Liverpool fans reacted to the news that Coates had netted a brace and many were shocked – given his tricky spell at Anfield beforehand.