During Liverpool’s pre-season tour in the United States, while the team were in their home base of Chicago, Freddie Woodman, who is currently listed as the third choice goalkeeper on the Liverpool depth chart, sat down for an interview with The Redmen TV.
Accepting the third-choice role requires a special kind of character, and Woodman's reaction highlighted exactly that. He brings a quiet confidence, an impeccable attitude, and a profound respect for what it means to represent Liverpool, ready whenever his number is called.
Woodman joined Liverpool last summer on a transfer from Preston North End, which, depending on how you look at it, was a step back in terms of first-team playing time.
For a goalkeeper who had been a weekly regular in the Championship, the decision was not particularly easy for Woodman. In the interview he reflected on his decision:
“It was really difficult. It was a difficult decision... to just sort of give up my playing week in week out role but like I said, you can’t turn down this football club.”
Woodman extended his contract earlier this summer, following a debut campaign with the Reds, the 29-year-old English goalkeeper earned his first taste of the Premier League spotlight during April's high-stakes Merseyside derby at the Hill Dickinson stadium.
Thrust into action when Giorgi Mamardashvili was stretchered off following a collision, Woodman seized his opportunity in Liverpool's 2–1 victory over Everton.
Under intense derby pressure, he composure and shot-stopping proved the occasion was neither too big nor beyond his capabilities.
"There’s a responsibility when I do get called upon and for me if in that moment at Everton, I’m not ready and I haven’t trained well and I haven’t prepared as well as I could have, then you know, that day could have gone different and I could have let down a lot of people my teammates, the staff, and the fans,” he said.
In 303 first-team minutes last season, Woodman fulfilled his goalkeeper duties as well as one could hope, posting a 2-2 record and receiving Player of the Match against his childhood club Crystal Palace at Anfield, proving he is not someone who just goes through the motions but one who knows how to remain present, commit to training everyday and is ready when his number is called.
Speaking on what he has learned training alongside Alisson Becker, Woodman referred to Becker as “the best in the world” and both a privilege and a masterclass.
“Getting to work with Ali every day... I’ve learned so much from him and watching him work up close is amazing,” Woodman said.
Listening to Woodman speak, one can sense he is a team player who has made peace with both the blessing and curse (if you will) of the situation he has worked so hard to get himself in.
When you are a member of Liverpool football club, expectations will always be high and Woodman recognizes the responsibility he has and is doing everything he can to meet it fully, just as he did last season.
Ahead of Sunday's clash at Anfield, Freddie Woodman will be hoping to feature when Liverpool host AS Monaco in their pre-season fixture.
Having stepped up whenever called upon most notably during last season's high-stakes Merseyside derby the 29-year-old shot-stopper remains determined to push for every available minute.
A runout against the Ligue 1 outfit would not only reward his unyielding work ethic behind the scenes, but also give the Anfield faithful another chance to appreciate a keeper who continues to prove the art of staying ready.
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