Freddie Woodman has revealed Arne Slot’s message to him in Liverpool’s Merseyside derby win.
The third-choice goalkeeper was a surprise substitution during last weekend’s late victory over Everton after Giorgi Mamardashvili was substituted with a knee injury.
Woodman had previously only featured in the Reds’ Carabao Cup exit to Crystal Palace last October prior to his second-half cameo at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
And the 29-year-old lifted the lid on Slot’s post-match debrief after doing the double over their neighbours thanks to Virgil van Dijk’s winning header deep in added time.
“He just said that I just worked all season without getting, you know, a lot of credit,” said Woodman.
“But I’m happy with that. He was just happy for me and for me to shake his hand after the game, realising I felt like I’d done the best I can is a nice moment because obviously he brought me to this football club.
“Did I ever think I was going to be playing for Liverpool in the Premier League?
“Probably not, but when I’m called upon there, I just wanted to do my best.
“When you’re called upon, you just want to be reliable. That’s what it feels like and, to be honest,
“I was just happy to have to get over the line but then to win it the way we did was incredible.”
Woodman arrived at Anfield last summer as added depth to the goalkeeping department alongside Mamardashvili and first-choice stopper Alisson.
He added: “It’s easy here. You know, Mo Salah is coming to you and saying he wants to do extra shooting. It’s every kid’s dream.
“For me, I’ve watched him over the last seven to eight years and to build a relationship with Robbo (Andy Robertson), Curtis [Jones], Cody [Gakpo], Virgil.
“I saw these guys last season as superstars, and you come in and you realise that they’re just normal blokes.
“They’re good people and it’s been really nice to build those relationships.”
With Alisson not due to return until early May and Mamardashvili facing a spell out, the Croydon native is set to face boyhood heroes Palace again on Saturday.
“It would be unreal, incredible, to get another game in the Premier League and for Liverpool,” admitted Woodman.
“I grow up supporting Palace, I was a ball-boy and played against them in the Carabao Cup.
“Hopefully, I want Giorgi to be fine and then Ali, the best goalkeeper in the world,
“I want him to come back fit. Listen, we will see what happens on Saturday. I will just go about my stuff this week and prepare as if I am playing.”