Michael Owen held the record as Liverpool’s youngest goalscorer for nearly 19 years before he was overtaken by Ben Woodburn, and the former Red now sits fourth in the all-time list.
On May 6, 1997, Owen announced himself to the world on his senior Liverpool debut, scoring off the bench in the 74th minute.
The strike could not stop the Reds from succumbing to a defeat against Wimbledon, but it did write Owen’s name in the record books, having scored at the tender age of 17 years and 143 days.
No Liverpool youngster would knock the former academy product off his perch until Woodburn found the net against Leeds in 2016, at only 17 years and 45 days old.
Liverpool’s Youngest-Ever Goalscorers
Player Age Year
Rio Ngumoha 16 years, 361 days 2025
Ben Woodburn 17 years, 45 days 2016
Kaide Gordon 17 years, 96 days 2022
Michael Owen 17 years, 143 days 1997
Jordan Rossiter 17 years, 183 days 2014
In the years since, Owen has moved further down the all-time list, with Kaide Gordon next to announce himself with a goal in the FA Cup in 2022 at the age of 17 years and 96 days.
Jurgen Klopp was the man at the helm on both occasions, giving life to the adage that, ‘If you’re good enough, you’re old enough’.
Woodburn could not hold the record as the club’s youngest goalscorer as long as Owen. Rio Ngumoha taking took that honour in 2025 at just 16 years and 361 days old.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, November 29, 2016: Liverpool's Ben Woodburn scores the second goal against Leeds United, to become the club's youngest ever goal-scorer, during the Football League Cup Quarter-Final match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
As the first 16-year-old to score for Liverpool’s first team, Ngumoha’s record will take some beating in the generations to come, not to mention the finish on his winner at Newcastle!
At the other end of the top-five list, meanwhile, sits former academy product Jordan Rossiter, who found the net at 17 years and 183 days against Middlesbrough in 2014.
It is relevant to note, however, that Owen remains the club’s youngest goalscorer in Europe after his strike against Celtic at only 17 years and 276 days old.
Where are they now?
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Monday, August 25, 2025: Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha celebrates after scoring his side's winning third goal, his first competitive goal on Premier League debut becoming Liverpool's youngest ever goal-scorer, during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. Liverpool won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Rio Ngumoha
Ngumoha is still only 17 and has been carefully managed by Liverpool and Arne Slot, though that did not stop him from taking another record.
By scoring at Anfield against Fulham, he became the youngest-ever player to score a home league goal for Liverpool at 17 years, 225 days old.
Ben Woodburn
After struggling to breakthrough at Liverpool, Woodburn went on four successive loan spells before leaving the club permanently in 2022.
As of 2026, he is playing his football in League Two with Salford City, though is currently injured.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, January 9, 2022: Liverpool's Kaide Gordon celebrates after scoring the first equalising goal during the FA Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Shrewsbury Town FC at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Kaide Gordon
He has endured a long and difficult battle with growth-related injuries and has combined that with fruitless loans, hampering his career progression.
The 21-year-old is still on the club’s books; he failed to land a loan move in the winter window after tearing his meniscus.
Michael Owen
Owen went on to win the Ballon d’Or in 2001, but his career at Liverpool was tainted after agreeing to join Man United in his twilight years, making him a divisive figure!
He currently works as a pundit.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 23, 2014: Liverpool's Jordan Rossiter celebrates scoring the first goal against Middlesbrough on his debut during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Jordan Rossiter
The academy product left for Rangers in 2016, where he was sent on two loan spells before permanently leaving for Fleetwood Town in 2022.
He became somewhat of a journeyman, playing at Bristol Rovers, Shrewsbury Town, Oldham and Waterford before venturing overseas to join Sporting JAX ahead of their inaugural season in the USL Championship in America.
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