LIverpool: Freddie Woodman on life as Reds’ third-choice goalkeeper

Asked about that ability to put himself second on a daily basis, Woodman said: “It’s easy here. You know, Mo Salah is coming to you and saying he wants to do extra shooting. It’s every kid’s dream…

“And to build a relationship with Robbo [Andy Robertson], Curtis [Jones], Cody [Gakpo], Virgil [van Dijk]… I saw these guys last season as superstars. And you come in and you realise that they’re just normal blokes and they’re good people and it’s been really nice to build those relationships.”

After Sunday’s game, Liverpool boss Arne Slot praised Woodman, who made one save to deny Iliman Ndiaye after coming on.

“He just said that I worked all season without getting a lot of credit. But I’m happy with that,” Woodman said.

“He was just happy for me and for me to shake his hand after the game, realising I felt like I’d done the best I can, is a nice moment.”

With Alisson still out with a hamstring injury and Mamardashvili facing a spell on the sidelines, Woodman looks set to play against his boyhood club Crystal Palace at Anfield this weekend.

“It would be unreal, incredible, to get another game in the Premier League and for Liverpool,” he said.

“I grew up supporting Palace, I was a ball boy there and played against them in the Carabao Cup [this season]. I want Giorgi to be fine and then Ali, the best goalkeeper in the world, to come back fit.

“We’ll see what happens on Saturday. I will just go about my stuff this week and prepare as if I am playing.”

Woodman’s top-flight debut for Liverpool capped a superb weekend for his family, with his father Andy – a former goalkeeper, who now manages Bromley – celebrating promotion to League One for the first time in club history on Saturday.

“I was actually enjoying this Merseyside derby at the new stadium and then I was chucked into it at the deep end, so it was a good weekend for [my] family,” Woodman said.

“Yeah, it was a little nerve-racking. But the nerves fuel you to want to do well and not to let people down.

“You come on and you think about the eight months that have gone past where you’ve worked every day for this one moment. When you’re called upon, you just want to be reliable.

“That’s what it feels like and to be honest, I was happy to get over the line but then to win it the way we did [with Van Dijk’s 100th-minute header] was incredible.”