Liverpool have a long and proud history of bringing players through the ranks.
The only Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or in the last 35 years – Michael Owen – was a product of the Reds’ famed academy system, while we don’t need to tell you about Steven Gerrard’s legacy at the club.
And it seems that tradition is continuing even now under Jurgen Klopp, who is using his first pre-season at Anfield to blood some new youngsters ahead of what promises to be an exciting season for the Liverpool faithful.
Klopp was known in Dortmund for bringing through stars like Mario Gotze, and even if the young goalkeeper he signed from Germany over the summer has gotten off to a shaky start, Klopp is not afraid to call on some of the club’s youngsters to fill in when needed.
During the Reds’ 2-0 win over Wigan on Sunday, 16-year-old Ben Woodburn was given a taste of first-team action. And though it was only a friendly against a Championship team, the youngster showed great poise to convert a sumptuous through-ball to secure the victory.
https://twitter.com/LFCMostar/status/754717098442575873
Liverpool fans responded in their predictably level-headed fashion as Woodburn secured his second goal of the summer.
https://twitter.com/Turner_LFC/status/754730531577860096
Woodburn >>> Rashford
— John O'Sullivan (@NotoriousJOS) July 17, 2016
Ben Woodburn > Rashford
— Alan Walsh (@Walshman_) July 17, 2016
https://twitter.com/FutboIDan/status/754721368172789760
Marcus Rashford wears Ben Woodburn pyjamas
— Childish Fabinho (@ChiIdishFabinh0) July 17, 2016
Woodburn is twice the player of Rashford
— jay (@jayspiersy) July 17, 2016
Although apparently not everyone seemed to realise that the 16-year-old is Welsh…
Ben Woodburn will probably get called up by England and be hailed as the national team's saviour now #lfc
— Tim (@TimD2704) July 17, 2016
https://twitter.com/SimplySuarez/status/754720434549952512
But some see a struggle for his national loyalties fast approaching.
Ben Woodburn is the best English prospect in ages, it's even more amazing when you remember that he's actually Welsh.
— 🇱🇹 Paulius 🇺🇦 (@Kolology) July 17, 2016
Remember the name BEN WOODBURN, Liverpool's 16 yr old starlet…..I reckon the Welsh and English will be fighting over this kid very soon ⚽️
— A.Z 🔥 (@AbuZara007) July 17, 2016
https://twitter.com/lukebwilliams10/status/754719989731618816
Right then cookie lets get this ben woodburn in the next Welsh squad stop England from poaching him #Wales
— gareth (@gaza_A7) July 17, 2016
