Ben Woodburn became Liverpool’s youngest-ever goal scorer as progress was they reached the EFL Cup semi-final with a 2-0 win over Leeds United.

Divock Origi struck for the second time in four days to open the scoring as he stabbed home a pinpoint cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

But Woodburn stole focus on his second outing for the Reds as he fired home a close-range effort into the Kop goal to surpass Michael Owen’s 19-year record.

Here were the key talking points from Anfield…

Woodburn: a star is born?

 

Until tonight, the accolade of Liverpool’s youngest all-time goal scorer had stood for over 19 years.

It was a prodigious 17-year-old from Chester who had most recently set it, too.

If Ben Woodburn experiences even half the Anfield career that his predecessor Michael Owen enjoyed, he will have done incredibly well indeed.

Fittingly, the former Reds striker was in the stands to bear witness to the passing of his former crown to a player only born when he was nearing his peak.

Just four days after making his senior debut for Liverpool, he left a lasting second impression as he rifled home the second of the evening.

He could not have asked for a more perfect setting as Georginio Wijnaldum teed him up to drill past Marco Silvestri and put the tie beyond reasonable doubt.

Woodburn’s stock has been on the rise within the ranks of Liverpool’s academy but Klopp was keen to keep the youngster’s inevitable hype firmly under wraps.

He may struggle to hold back the tide on the back of this historic moment.

Wijnaldum must seize the moment

 

He may have set up Woodburn for the easiest of finishes but Wijnaldum may also wish begin taking notes on the subject of finesse.

The Holland international had set himself the target of double figures for this season but despite his best efforts against Leeds, something was clearly lacking.

Forcing a close-range save from Silveri in the first half and rattling the woodwork in front of the Kop was the sum of Wijnaldum’s contributions in front of goal.

With a greater freedom to attack than in Premier League games, he failed to make the most of what should have been little more than target practice.

One goal from 15 outings in all competitions tells its own story of Wijnaldum’s penalty area productivity and it not a compelling one.

‘Pass and Move’ is being forgotten

 

Whether it is billed as ‘pass and move’, ‘tiki taka’ or ‘heavy metal football’, Liverpool’s sides have retained their principles of concise foundations.

Clearly the message has become lost in translation with the current crop judging by touch-heavy spells of build-up play which ultimately amounted to nothing.

Emre Can was the greatest culprit either side of the interval while Origi, good though he ultimately proved, should have pulled the trigger early in the second half.

That the basics of Anfield’s footballing ethos are being forgotten so easily, not least by players now stepping up in the coming weeks, is a genuine concern.

Full strength semi-final is a must

 

It may not be the highest-ranked of Liverpool’s targets this season but the EFL Cup has been a staple of silverware during Anfield’s years of domestic drought.

In recent years it has been a competition treated with a diminished priority, with a combination of youngsters and fringe players often making up the numbers.

Klopp will point to the solid showings from the likes of Lucas Leiva, Ragnar Klavan and young guns such as Woodburn, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ovie Ejaria.

But Leeds had doggedly threatened snatch victory on several occasions, not least when Kemar Roofe rattled Mignolet’s crossbar with a looping long-range attempt.

With a potential meeting with the winners of Arsenal and Southampton or Manchester United and West Ham, Klopp cannot take a half-measured approach.