Freddie Woodman never think say e go dey play for Liverpool for Premier League. But when dem call am, e just want do im best.
Last season, Woodman dey sideline with injury for Preston North End as dem narrowly escape relegation for Championship. Fast forward one year, and dem throw am into crucial Merseyside derby after Giorgi Mamardashvili injure for second half of Liverpool win at Everton.
The former England youth international, wey dem sign as third-choice keeper for free transfer last summer, dey make im first Premier League appearance since 2021. Na one of four top-flight matches during eight years at Newcastle, although e loan go six teams for that time, before e join Preston for 2022.
Woodman make 138 appearances for Preston over three seasons before e leave at end of im contract, and e don adapt to new role for Liverpool. “E tough,” Woodman, 29, talk about being third-choice keeper. “I dey new to this role. When opportunity come, I dey a bit unsure whether to do am, and as third choice, I still dey learn on the job. I quickly realise say my game time go dey limited and I probably go dey called upon for 10, 20 minutes, and when that time come, I just want to dey prepared.”
“And so the eight months where I dey train, I just dey think about those 10 minutes, those 20 minutes, where you dey nervous, but you fit rely on all the preparation wey you don do – and that’s what I try to do.”
“Being third choice, from wetin I don see, e more important than I think when I come in. You dey try to get relationship with the lads, so if Dom [Szoboszlai] want to do extra free-kicks, I want to dey there to help am. If Mo [Salah] want to do extra shooting, I want to dey there to help am. So e just dey try to find different role within the team and realise how important e be.”
When dem ask am about that ability to put himself second on daily basis, Woodman talk: “E easy here. You know, Mo Salah dey come to you and talk say e want to do extra shooting. Na every kid dream. And to build relationship with Robbo [Andy Robertson], Curtis [Jones], Cody [Gakpo], Virgil [van Dijk]. I see these guys last season as superstars. And you come in and you realise say dem just be normal blokes and dem be good people, and e don really nice to build those relationships.”
After Sunday game, Liverpool boss Arne Slot praise Woodman, wey make one save to deny Iliman Ndiaye after e come on. “E just talk say I work all season without getting plenty credit. But I happy with that,” Woodman talk. “E just happy for me and for me to shake im hand after the game, realising I feel like I don do the best I fit, na nice moment.”
With Alisson still out with hamstring injury and Mamardashvili dey face spell on sideline, Woodman look set to play against im boyhood club Crystal Palace for Anfield this weekend. “E go be unreal, incredible, to get another game for Premier League and for Liverpool,” e talk. “I grow up supporting Palace, I be ball boy there and play against dem for Carabao Cup [this season]. I want Giorgi to dey fine and then Ali, the best goalkeeper for the world, to come back fit. We go see wetin happen on Saturday. I go just go about my stuff this week and prepare as if I dey play.”
Woodman top-flight debut for Liverpool cap superb weekend for im family, with im father Andy – former goalkeeper, wey now manage Bromley – celebrating promotion to League One for first time for club history on Saturday. “I dey actually enjoy this Merseyside derby for the new stadium and then dem chuck me into am for deep end, so e be good weekend for [my] family,” Woodman talk. “Yeah, e dey 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 wey don pass where you work every day for this one moment. When dem call you, you just want to dey reliable. That’s wetin e feel like, and to be honest, I happy to get over the line but then to win am the way we do [with Van Dijk 100th-minute header] na incredible.”
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