Andy Robertson hails 'unbelievable' Liverpool star after surprise opportunity

Freddie Woodman made his Premier League debut for Liverpool in Sunday's 2-1 win over Everton in the Merseyside derby, with the goalkeeper forced into emergency action after Giorgi Mamardashvili was injured

Andy Robertson has praised Freddie Woodman(Image: Getty Images)

Andy Robertson has heaped praise on Freddie Woodman after the third-choice goalkeeper played a pivotal role in Liverpool's hard-fought 2-1 victory over Everton in Sunday's Merseyside derby.

With Alisson Becker ruled out through a hamstring injury, Woodman was called upon to replace Giorgi Mamardashvili after the Georgia international sustained a deep knee wound while attempting to stop Everton striker Beto's equalizer in the club's first-ever encounter at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Woodman, who joined Liverpool on a free transfer from Preston last summer, was thrust into the action approximately 10 minutes into the second half and proved instrumental in securing a memorable triumph.

The victory was ultimately sealed in the 100th minute by Virgil van Dijk's header, following Mohamed Salah's opener being canceled out by Beto. Robertson lauded the stand-in goalkeeper's character and spoke highly of a player who was making both his Reds debut and his first top-flight appearance since featuring for Newcastle back in September 2021.

"Look, I take the mickey out of him a lot, and we always have a laugh and a joke, but he is a credit to himself," Robertson told LFCTV.

"Since he has come in, he has been unbelievable, whether that's Mo Salah wanting to stay out and do penalties after training, Woody is one there doing that with him. Whether it is running after the game where the lads have been dragged out, like I've done [after the game] at PSG, and he is always there to do it and to support.

Woodman was called into action on Sunday(Image: Getty Images)

"So these people at a club like this are so important. Maybe they don't always get the credit they deserve, don't always get the limelight and stuff like that. But when he walked back in the changing room there, I think he got a nice reception.

"He is a well-loved player; he has fitted in so well. It maybe took him a few weeks to actually talk to any of us! He was a bit nervous, but once he settled in, he showed his quality as well. Forget about the personality, he has shown his composure, his quality on the ball; the little header and pass out to me was [a risk, laughs].

"But like he says, we've got quality goalkeepers here, Ali [Alisson] is the best in the world, hopefully he is back soon, hopefully Giorgi is back soon too. But if these two are out [injured], we all fully believe he is one to step up, and he showed that today."

Robertson, who will depart Liverpool after nine years this summer, added: "Look, I've loved the Merseyside derby, I have done over these nine years. These are the games I look back that have always got the best out of me, always got the juices flowing inside me and this was no different.

"When I got the nod [to start] yesterday, me and Mo spoke about it, we just said let's go out and enjoy it, it's our last one. We've had so many great memories in the Merseyside derby, so many highs. You know, a couple of lows but not too many. They are fantastic games to be involved in and I am going to miss them, that is for sure.

"I thought first half we were excellent and in control and when we conceded the goal was when we were at our most dominant, so it was only a matter of time when we got our second. I have been here long enough, I know how Merseyside derbies work and when you have momentum, sometimes you get punished, which I think is what we did.

"We took a little bit of time recover and then we just keep going and keep going and that is what we did. A set-piece, right at the death, you can't ask for much better than that. It was great to see the away end how they reacted.

"Look, Rio [Ngumoha] had a great chance, he might feel he could have done better, but we were knocking at the door a little bit and when you get a set-piece, you always believe when you have Virgil and Ibou [Konate] in the team, you always believe they can be on the end of it. And thankfully the big man popped up and won it for us at the end."