OPINION
Ben Woodburn didn’t exactly cover himself in glory last season.
Whereas his peers, the likes of Ryan Kent and Harry Wilson, went out on loan from Liverpool to great success and a decent amount of fanfare, the Welsh international spent the first half of the campaign on loan with Sheffield United before returning to Merseyside and spending the rest of the season in the reserves.
The 19-year-old is clearly a talent, but during his spell with the Blades he averaged just 0.6 key passes per match, 0.1 dribbles, and 0.1 shots on goal [Whoscored]. That is, quite simply, abysmal, and it will no doubt have come as a sobering blow for a player who has widely been regarded as one of the brightest sparks in the Reds’ academy set up for some time now.
It is more important than ever, therefore, that he really kicks on this season.
Nobody is indispensable at a club as successful as Liverpool, and you fear that if Woodburn doesn’t show some kind of progress this season, he could be out on his ear in the relatively near future.
Thankfully, however, the early signs are promising.
Woodburn played in the 6-0 demolition of Tranmere Rovers earlier in the week, and Jurgen Klopp seemed suitably impressed with his display.
Speaking to the Reds’ official website, he said: “Ben Woodburn, it was probably the best game I saw that he’s back, you see it in training already, he is really physically strong now, he is fresh again, sharp again.”
At the end of the day, Woodburn only has to impress one man, and one man only, and if the grinning German is showering him with praise like this already, the hope will be that he can finally start to reach the potential that he has promised for so long.
