Newcastle United fans raised a few eyebrows upon seeing that Freddie Woodman had been snapped up by Liverpool.
Relations between Newcastle United and Liverpool were all over the news during the summer transfer window.
Alexander Isak forced his way out of Newcastle as he completed a deadline day move to Liverpool after months of speculation.
Newcastle fans gave Liverpool a hostile welcome to St James’ Park, and that was before Isak even made his move.
What may have slipped a little under the radar is that Isak is not the only man with Newcastle connections to have joined Liverpool this past summer.
Former Newcastle United goalkeeper Freddie Woodman set for Liverpool debut
Goalkeeper Freddie Woodman was long tipped to break through at Newcastle, having impressed in the England youth ranks.
Woodman couldn’t quite establish himself at St James’ Park and played just nine first-team games for the Magpies.
Preston North End signed Woodman permanently in 2022, and the stopper made a shock move this past summer, after 138 appearances for the Lilywhites.
Liverpool signed Woodman, bringing him in as the third-choice goalkeeper behind Alisson and Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Unsurprisingly, Woodman has yet to feature for Liverpool, but his debut may now be imminent.
The Liverpool Echo note that Woodman is expected to start for Liverpool in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie against Crystal Palace.
Alisson is out injured and Mamardashvili is being saved for Premier League action, so Woodman is in line to start.
Isak is set to miss out through injury, but one former Newcastle man will be involved for Liverpool in Woodman.
Freddie Woodman explains Liverpool transfer
Newcastle fans may have been left baffled by Woodman’s Anfield move.
Woodman left Newcastle to chase first-team football, rather than sitting on the bench.
After three years of regular starts at PNE, Woodman has now taken a third-choice role at Liverpool.
Woodman is only 28, but now looks set for a spell on the bench or on the sidelines at Liverpool.
Speaking on Liverpool’s official website, Woodman admitted that he felt he simply couldn’t turn down a move to Liverpool.
“I’ve played consistently over the last five or six years, albeit in the Championship and a few Premier League games,” said Woodman.
“I wanted to keep playing and I’m only 28, but there was a conversation in the summer where Liverpool came up. I had other options but my dad said to me, ‘How do you turn down Liverpool? You just can’t do it.’
“I’m very happy with my decision because I get to work with the best players in the world and I get to work up close with Ali and Giorgi, who are top goalkeepers who I think are only going to make me better and help my development,” he added.
Now looking to help Liverpool into the next round of the Carabao Cup, Woodman could yet feature against Newcastle later in the competition, if we get a repeat of last season’s final.
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