Liverpool's youngest-ever goalscorer handed Championship lifeline after rollercoaster career

Back in November 2016 Ben Woodburn became Liverpool's youngest-ever goalscorer.

His strike against Leeds United in a League Cup win came when he was aged 17 years, 145 days. It came just three days after his full debut and saw Woodburn overtake Michael Owen in the Anfield record books. Many tipped him for a bright future after that breakthrough strike.

Indeed, he would feature in a clutch of Reds' games in both the Premier League and FA Cup in the second half of that season. The following year club legend Steven Gerrard, the club's under-19s coach, labelled him "fantastic" after one particular dazzling performance in a UEFA Youth League clash and praised his work ethic.

Despite struggling to break into the first team, resulting in multiple loan spells away from the club, he still earned praise from Jurgen Klopp as recently as last summer. Woodburn had just returned following a less-than-successful stay at Blackpool but the German was thrilled by his attitude.

"He (Woodburn) always shows up in a top, top way," Klopp said last August. "In the pre-season he played right-back, did really well; played midfield, did really well; played the wing, did really well; played No.9, did really well. So that’s good."

But that goal against Leeds all those years ago would ultimately prove to be the high point for Woodburn, even at such a tender age. He would play just two more matches for Liverpool after that 2016-17 campaign, before a clutch of loans and his inevitable release earlier this summer.

Now, after leaving Liverpool, he has earned a fresh chance at Championship club Preston North End after a successful trial period ended with him signing a one-year deal. Speaking after being unveiled, Woodburn spoke highly of