Liverpool’s youngest ever first-team goalscorer Ben Woodburn put in another jaw-dropping performanc last night for the Under-23s, a level of football he’s frankly finding too easy.
The 17-year-old scored a brace against Manchester City in our 3-2 win and was head and shoulders above everybody else on the pitch, in short.
Under-23 coach Mick Garrity has waxed lyrical about the youngster and claimed Woodburn’s experiences this season will help him develop into an elite footballer.
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(Video) Rhian Brewster’s assist for Woodburn’s goal last night is jaw-dropping
“He’s got bundles of quality. I think when you can get him round the goal and round facing forward then he will hurt people,” Garrity told the Echo.
“He’s been on the (first team) bench a lot and he probably hasn’t played as much as he wanted to play, but he can be really proud of the year that he’s had and the progression that he’s made this season.
“It’s not to be sniffed at what he’s achieved.
“He’s gone up to Melwood, he’s training with the first team every single day, he’s in the squad. Just being on the bench is an experience for him in big games at Anfield or away from home in the Premier League.
“All these experiences that he’s getting will only help to his development.
“But when you’re a young player, you want to play every single week, he hasn’t been able to do that. But whenever he has played, he’s showed the quality that he’s got.”
It’s been great to see Woodburn this term and another full pre-season with the first-team will do him wonders.
We’re sure that he, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ovie Ejaria and upcoming striker Rhian Brewster will all be taken on tour this summer by Jurgen Klopp, who’s consistently showed he’s happy to blood our best Academy players.
We’re certain to buy new attacking midfielders come the end of the season, but with European football of some description expected next campaign, Woodburn will hopefully have opportunities for the first-team in 2017/18.
He’s technically exceptional and possesses a killer-instinct in and around the box that will hopefully help him (and us) in the future.