Woodburn a new Reds hero
Striker, 17, replaces Owen as Liverpool's youngest goalscorer
| LIVERPOOL | LEEDS UNITED |
| 2 | 0 |
| Divock Origi 76, Ben Woodburn 81 |
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp admitted that it will be difficult to keep the club's new youngest goalscorer Ben Woodburn out of the spotlight if he continues to score goals.
Woodburn, aged 17 years and 45 days, beat Michael Owen's record by 98 days with an emphatic 81st-minute finish in the 2-0 win over Leeds in yesterday morning's (Singapore time) League Cup quarter-final.
He made his first-team debut in last Saturday's victory over Sunderland and he is highly rated within the club, with midfielder Lucas Leiva calling him a "brilliant young player".
Woodburn, a 67th-minute substitute, sealed the win at Anfield after Divock Origi's second in as many matches broke the deadlock in the 76th minute.
"I can say whatever I want but, if he scores goals, it's difficult to stay cool from your (media) side, no problem," said Klopp, whose side booked a record 17th League Cup semi-final.
"But nothing we say here is important enough to help Ben Woodburn or myself.
So it’ll be a little war between the two countries over this young lad because he is full of talentFormer Liverpool manager Roy Evans on Ben Woodburn, who has played for Wales at youth level but can still represent England
"My first job is to help these boys be the best.
"There are a lot of things to do, especially to keep the public away as long as possible. That's quite a difficult thing to do...
"I am really happy with him, the only problem is I am a little afraid about you (the press)."
Among the many impressed by the teenager's performance is former Reds boss and ex-Wales assistant coach Roy Evans.
TUG OF WAR
The 68-year-old believes that the player's emergence is set to spark "a little war" between the football associations of England and Wales.
Woodburn has played for Wales at Under-17 and U-19 levels, but is still eligible to play for the Three Lions.
Said Evans: "You've got to jump on these players when they become available and you think they're going to be good enough.
"So it'll be a little war between the two countries over this young lad because he is full of talent." - WIRE SERVICES.
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