Third-choice Liverpool keeper Woodman makes Premier League return in 2026

Freddie Woodman made his first Premier League appearance since 2021 for Liverpool after being called into a crucial Merseyside derby.

Woodman reflects on unlikely Premier League return Freddie Woodman admitted that playing for Liverpool in the Premier League was never something he expected when he said, "Did I ever think I was going to be playing for Liverpool in the Premier League? Probably not, but when I'm called upon, I just wanted to do my best." Last season, he was recovering from injury while playing for Preston North End, who barely avoided dropping out of the Championship. This year, his situation changed dramatically when Giorgi Mamardashvili suffered an injury during Liverpool's victory over Everton, thrusting Woodman into action. This marked his first top-flight appearance since 2021, following four Premier League matches across eight years with Newcastle, during which he was loaned to six different clubs before joining Preston in 2022. ## Life as Liverpool's third-choice goalkeeper Speaking about the challenges of being Liverpool's third-choice goalkeeper, Woodman, now 29, described it as difficult, stating, "It's tough. I am new to this role." When he first considered the opportunity, he was uncertain whether to accept it. Even as a backup, he realized his playing time would be minimal, likely limited to brief stints of 10 or 20 minutes. He approached those moments with intense preparation, using months of training to focus on those critical minutes. "I quickly realised that my game time is going to be limited and that I would probably be called upon for 10, 20 minutes, and when that time comes, I just wanted to be prepared," he explained. His role has proven more significant than he initially anticipated, requiring him to support teammates like Dom Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah during extra practice sessions. ## Woodman cherishes relationships with Liverpool stars Woodman shared how easy it has been to embrace his role, given the opportunity to interact with Liverpool's star players. He recalled an interaction with Mohamed Salah where the forward asked for extra shooting practice, calling it "every kid's dream." Building relationships with players like Andy Robertson, Curtis Jones, Cody Gakpo, and Virgil van Dijk felt surreal since he had previously viewed them as icons. "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," he said. After his standout performance in the Merseyside derby, Liverpool manager Arne Slot acknowledged Woodman's hard work throughout the season. ## Woodman motivated by family achievements Following his successful debut for Liverpool, Woodman reflected on a memorable weekend for his family. His father, Andy Woodman, who previously played as a goalkeeper and now manages Bromley, guided the club to promotion to League One for the first time in their history. "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. The nerves of making his Premier League return only fueled his determination to perform well and avoid disappointing his teammates or supporters. ## Future prospects for Woodman at Liverpool With Alisson still sidelined due to a hamstring injury and Mamardashvili facing a recovery period, Woodman may feature again for Liverpool in their upcoming match against Crystal Palace. He expressed his excitement at the possibility, saying, "It would be unreal, incredible, to get another game in the Premier League and for Liverpool." Woodman has a personal connection to Crystal Palace, having grown up supporting the club and even serving as a ball boy there. He also mentioned facing Palace in the Carabao Cup earlier this season. His focus remains on preparing as though he will play, regardless of the circumstances. ## Coach and player praise Woodman's performance After making one crucial save to deny Iliman Ndiaye during his debut, Woodman received praise from Liverpool manager Arne Slot. "He just said that I worked all season without getting a lot of credit. But I'm happy with that," Woodman revealed. Slot's post-match handshake and words of encouragement were meaningful to him, marking a special moment in his journey. Woodman's debut capped off a significant week, highlighted by his father's historic promotion with Bromley.