Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is experimenting with young talent Ben Woodburn.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has told the club’s official website he was impressed with Ben Woodburn’s performance against Crystal Palace.
Woodburn became Liverpool’s youngest ever goalscorer last season in the EFL Cup against Leeds United, netting at just 16, following up goals he had scored in pre-season.
Touted as the club’s next great striker, manager Jurgen Klopp is not ready to box him in to one role just yet, and is keen to explore what the youngster can do.
Woodburn, now 17, featured in a deeper role in the Barclays Asia Trophy game against Crystal Palace yesterday, a 2-0 victory.
Liverpool vs Crystal Palace – Premier League Asia Trophy
He said: “It’s not the first time, he’s played there a few times. Ben is a very smart player. He is too young to fix him already for any position, so we only know that we want to have him in and around our team.
“He can play there, it’s no problem – he can play as a 10, he can play on the wing. He will get smarter, 100 per cent – and he is already really smart.
“Bringing him into the middle of the park helps him a lot to learn the highest level of football under pressure. It’s exciting. I have no idea which is his best position, but actually I don’t think about it – I am only happy that I have him around.”
Liverpool’s Ben Woodburn celebrates
Liverpool fans should be encouraged by Klopp’s comments, as they show he is committed to the young Welshman, and wants to find a way to fit him into his squad.
Learning a second position doubles Woodburn’s chances of first team action, and Klopp’s record of developing young talent suggests he deserves the trust of the player and supporters.
Woodburn appears to have been leapfrogged in the pecking order by new signing Dominic Solanke for now, but Klopp clearly wants to find a use for him regardless.
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