Freddie Woodman is in line to make his first Premier League start for Liverpool against Crystal Palace due to injuries to Alisson and Giorgi Mamardashvili.
With Alisson reportedly eyeing a return at Old Trafford on May 3 and Mamardashvili facing up to three weeks out, Woodman is set to make only his second Liverpool start.
The third-choice goalkeeper made his full debut in the 3-0 defeat to Palace in the Carabao Cup earlier in the season, and is now expected to face them again at Anfield.
Woodman has largely been on the periphery, as his role dictates, but he is a respected figure in the dressing room, and if you’re looking for information about the 29-year-old, you’ve come to the right place.
When did Freddie Woodman sign for Liverpool?
Freddie Woodman is unveiled as a Liverpool player after he signs for Liverpool Football Club on June 27, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Woodman arrived in the summer of 2025 on a free transfer, joining the club after three years at Preston.
A former England under-21 international, Woodman was a regular starter for Preston, winning the Lilywhites’ player of the year in his first season at Deepdale.
As a homegrown player, he proved an experienced, cost-efficient option to bolster the club’s goalkeeping ranks following the exits of Caoimhin Kelleher, Vitezslav Jaros and Harvey Davies (the last two on loan).
He arrived with over 300 senior appearances for Preston, Newcastle, Swansea, Kilmarnock, Crawley Town and Aberdeen.
Has Freddie Woodman ever started a Premier League match?
Freddie Woodman of Preston North End celebrating their win after the Sky Bet Championship match between Norwich City and Preston North End at Carrow Road, Norwich on Tuesday 11th February 2025. (Photo: David Watts | MI News)
Yes, he started four consecutive league games for Newcastle at the beginning of the 2021/22 season, due to the absences of Martin Dubravka and Karl Darlow.
They are the only run of games Woodman has in the English topflight, with his last coming in a 4-1 defeat to Man United in September 2021.
The Englishman did not win any of his four league outings for the Magpies, but he did manage two in the FA Cup in 2018 and 2019.
Woodman’s Newcastle career began as a youth player after leaving Palace. He was sent on several loan spells before permanently leaving in 2022 after nine years with the club.
Freddie Woodman is a World Cup and Golden Glove winner
Woodman won the U20 World Cup with England in 2017, in a squad that featured a few former Liverpool players, including Sheyi Ojo and Dominic Solanke.
He was also awarded the Golden Glove after keeping four clean sheets in six matches, including a penalty save in the Young Lions’ 1-0 final victory against Venezuela.
It was England’s first global tournament trophy in 51 years.
Is Freddie Woodman Gareth Southgate’s godson?
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - Tuesday, September 12, 2023: England's head coach Gareth Southgate during an International Friendly match between Scotland and England at Hampden Park. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Woodman is the former England manager’s godson, a connection that was born from the friendship between his father, Andy, and Gareth during their time at Crystal Palace.
In 2014, Woodman said: “It is true that Gareth is my godfather. I don’t see him that much now, but he and my Dad are still in touch.”
Woodman’s dad, Andy, played for Northampton Town, Brentford, Peterborough United, Southend United, Colchester United, Oxford United and Stevenage.
He now manages Bromley and secured their promotion to League One for the first-ever time the day before Woodman came off the bench against Everton.
Freddie Woodman’s ‘career’ began at Crystal Palace
Before he joined Newcastle as a youth player, Woodman was initially on Palace’s books as a 14-year-old.
He was previously a ball boy and a mascot for his boyhood club.
A move to Newcastle followed and Woodman later worked under Rafa Benitez, who gave him his senior debut, and he even courted the interest of Liverpool in 2016.
“Deserves a lot of credit”: What Arne Slot has said
After coming off the bench and acting as a calm influence, Slot offered public praise to Woodman after the late win at Everton.
He said: “Freddie did a great job. He deserves a lot of credit because you have to come in just after conceding 1-1 and the fans were ready for it, but he did his job really well.
“Kept calm in a difficult moment and kept his nerve, worked so hard to have this moment.
“Usually third goalkeepers don’t play a lot, but in a season like ours, I think if you are playing in the [academy] at Liverpool you should be ready to make your debut because it’s unbelievable what’s happening to us.”