Joe Allen has notably been compared to Andrea Pirlo, and the parallels look set to continue as news spreads of the pair’s shared love for food and drink.
But while Pirlo is a wine man, with his own vineyard back in Italy, Allen’s pastime is the altogether more humble world of poultry.
The Welsh wizard has found himself on the cover of Chicken & Egg magazine, as one eagle-eyed Liverpool fan spotted during a trip to the vet.
https://twitter.com/ynwagram/status/712002632873873408
Like us, you were probably intrigued by the sell of ‘Joe Allen talks chicken’ – does he have a hidden, Dr Dolittle-style ability to talk to the animals?
Or maybe you’re just curious about the seasalt competition, or grateful that finally someone’s got round to putting the spotlight on Hellmann’s.
For many, though, the sight of Allen on the cover provided enough entertainment on its own.
My goal in life is to be as happy as Joe Allen is when he's holding a chicken. pic.twitter.com/5PTOkRBPxF
— Michaela Davies (@MichaelaRoxy) March 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/JuzaShannon/status/711934000693186560
https://twitter.com/dmprsvn/status/711874596765605889
@DaveOCKOP Joe Allen… he's a good egg.
— Aidan Cranston 🇺🇦 (@funboyt) March 22, 2016
We have our own questions about the grilling the magazine gave Allen, while we’re sure his Liverpool team-mates will have roasted him for the embarrassing photo.
It could be the start of a move from the centre of midfield to the wing, and it will certainly help the former Swansea man differentiate himself from some of the turkeys Brendan Rodgers brought to Anfield.
But for now, we’re trying to determine whether the Liverpool move or the love of poultry was the key factor in making Allen the cover star of Chicken & Egg. We want to establish *what came first*, if you will.
