5 days ago
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Making a first appearance for Liverpool is a momentous occasion for any footballer. However, the prospect of facing his boyhood club could make Wednesday's match even more significant for Freddie Woodman.
Woodman was perhaps the least celebrated of Liverpool's summer signings, having been brought in on a free transfer to strengthen the senior goalkeeping squad following Vitezlsav Jaros' season-long loan move to Ajax.
The 28 year old former England under-21 international, who played for Preston North End last season, has over 200 Championship appearances under his belt and has also featured for Newcastle United in the Premier League before his switch to Anfield.
Despite this, Woodman's opportunities for first-team action this season were predicted to be limited, as he ranks third behind Alisson Becker and Giorgi Mamardashvili in the goalkeeping hierarchy under Liverpool manager Arne Slot.
However, with Alisson sidelined due to a hamstring injury and the potential need to rest Mamardashvili, Woodman, who has been named on the bench seven times, could be set to make his Liverpool debut against Crystal Palace - a club where his father Andy played and where he spent much of his youth career - in the League Cup fourth round tie on Wednesday evening, reports the Liverpool Echo.
In a similar situation at this stage of the competition last season, with Alisson also nursing a hamstring injury, Slot opted to give Jaros his full debut.
And regarding the prospect of doing exactly that, Woodman remarked: "Any time I get to pull on the jersey for this club, whether it be a pre-season game or whatever competition, I'll always just try to do my best and enjoy the moment.
"I've spent a lot of time playing in the Championship so to play for a club with this history is pretty special.
"I wanted to keep playing and I'm only 28, but there was a conversation in the summer where Liverpool came up. I had other options but my dad said to me, 'How do you turn down Liverpool? You just can't do it'. I'm very happy with my decision."
The Reds have lifted the League Cup a record 10 times and were runners-up against Newcastle United last season when trying to retain the trophy they last claimed in 2024.
"It's clear that this club takes the competition seriously, like it does every competition," Woodman explained. "When you get to the latter stages, you go to Wembley and you see how important it is to the fans.
"We train in the goalkeeping area at the AXA Training Centre and I regularly see the photo of Caoimhin Kelleher on the wall after his success in the recent finals, and that's how important it is. You can really write yourself into history if you win trophies at this club."
A native of Croydon, Woodman came through the youth ranks at local side Palace, though he reveals it was a fortunate coincidence during his secondary school days that led to him being recruited by the south London outfit. "It was my turn to go in goal one day and I had a teacher at the time, Mr Bruce, who was a coach for Crystal Palace," he told the official Liverpool matchday programme.
"After the session, he came up to me and said he wanted me to go down to Crystal Palace Park, where the academy set-up was based, that evening and take a trial. And that's where it all started for me.
"I used to go down to Selhurst with my grandad as he had a season ticket down there. I was a ballboy a few times and also a mascot and I just used to love it.
"Being a south London lad, being a Crystal Palace fan was just born into me really."
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