Ben Woodburn Makes History as Youngest Goalscorer in Liverpool History
The Liverpool teenager surpassed some of the biggest names in Liverpool history as he scored his first professional goal for the club against Leeds United in the EFL Cup.
GOAL
"And his name didn't even make the back sheet of the programme." On this day in 1998, a teenage Steven Gerrard was introduced to the Anfield crowd with that piece of commentary against Blackburn Rovers.
Eighteen years later, Ben Woodburn became Liverpool’s youngest-ever goalscorer - beating Michael Owen’s record by just under 100 days - with his name also left off the back of the matchday booklet for Tuesday night’s League Cup quarter-final against Leeds United.
Having made his first-team bow in the final minutes of the 2-0 victory over Sunderland at the weekend, the 17-year-old made his first impact for the Reds against Garry Monk’s men with the symmetry complete as Gerrard watched on from the Main Stand.
Divock Origi got the first on 76 minutes before Woodburn smashed high into the net in front of the Kop shortly afterwards as Liverpool progressed to the semi-finals on a night when the youngsters starred.
Ovie Ejaria and Trent Alexander-Arnold also turned in accomplished displays, with the latter setting up the opener.
It was a triumphant end for Liverpool following a poignant start to proceedings. The singing of You’ll Never Walk Alone prior to kick off felt particularly emotive, with an amplified a cappella version following when the music cut. The tragic plane crash in Colombia on Tuesday morning may have happened on a different continent, but it hit close to home.
Lucas Leiva, Liverpool captain for the night and the club’s longest-serving player, knew some of the Chapecoense footballers aboard the ill-fated aircraft. He asked Jurgen Klopp whether he could wear a black armband as a mark of respect, with the German informing him that every player would do so to pay tribute to those affected by the heart-wrenching disaster, which claimed 71 lives.
A minute’s silence was also impeccably observed, while Liverpool supporters in the Kop too showed their solidarity beyond a moving version of the club’s anthem by recreating a Brazil flag in red.