Slot: Woodman Save Was “Moment of the Game”

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 25: Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, embraces Freddie Woodman of Liverpool at full time following the Premier League match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield on April 25, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) | Getty Images Liverpool’s season has been a struggle when it comes to keeping players healthy. To say it’s been a challenge, even, is downplaying it.

At various points, Liverpool have had to use what would account to third-choice players at left-back, center-back, and center forward. In fact, at right-back, Liverpool have technically gone to fourth-choice by playing midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones in that position at different times this season. Currently, Liverpool’s keeper is third choice Freddie Woodman given that both Alisson Becker and Giorgi Mamardashvili are both currently unavailable.

And since Woodman’s introduction approximately half-way through the Everton match, the former Preston End netminder has basically played things pitch-perfect. In this match, with the game very much in the balance as Liverpool had only just notched the opening goal minutes before, Woodman dropped down and saved a header from Jean-Philippe Mateta that was in the vicinity of the six-yard box. It was a vital stop but it also provided the catalyst for the second goal as the Reds turned on the rebound from that save and went straight up the pitch to score.

Slot was understandably asked about it during his post-match press conference and the gaffer was firm on this importance of Woodman’s heroics in that moment: “[Being delighted about Woodman’s performance is] an understatement. I think I’ve sat here many times telling you guys that we’ve created a lot of good chances and then the first one of the other team went in. Now, I cannot say that today, because they’ve had enough good chances and enough moments that they were really close.