When Salford City line up against Man City on Saturday evening, one player will be keen to make an impression more than most.

Ben Woodburn made a huge impact as a teenager when he broke through at Liverpool. Back in November 2016, the Wales international signed his first professional contract as a 17-year-old alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold and just weeks later he made his senior debut for the Reds.

Woodburn's appearance from the bench in a 2-0 win over Sunderland saw him become Liverpool's third youngest player of all time and three days later he made even more history. Appearing from the bench in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals against Leeds United, Woodburn scored to become Liverpool's youngest ever goalscorer - breaking a record previously held by Michael Owen by 98 days.

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was keen to calm the hype that was beginning to surround Woodburn, though, and said after the match: "We know what Ben is capable of and what he is already able to do. My first job is to help these boys so that they can be the best. In this case, Ben Woodburn.

"There’s a lot of things to do, especially to keep the public away as long as possible. That’s quite a difficult thing to do. But on the other hand, we only bring him in because we want to use him. So that means when he’s on the pitch he’s absolutely allowed to score goals, to prepare situations, to make crosses.

"So, all good. I’m really happy for him. The only problem is I’m a little bit afraid about you [the media]. That’s why I’m so quiet on this. Think and do what you want, but don’t write anything – only ‘Goalscorer, Ben Woodburn.’ Done. Quite a challenge."

Woodburn then marked his senior debut for Wales later that year with a stunning 25-yard winner against Austria in a World Cup qualifier and a new long term deal at Anfield followed. But Klopp's warning about not putting too much pressure on the attacking midfielder's shoulders proved to be pertinent. Woodburn's career at Liverpool never hit the heights that were expected.

A loan move to Sheffield United was the start of his downfall, as he struggled for game-time in the Championship with the Blades and was recalled. A further loan spell at Oxford United was plagued with injuries and by the time he had finished with loan spells with Blackpool and Hearts, Woodburn was way out of the Liverpool first team picture and was released on a free transfer at the end of the 2021/22 season.

Woodburn joined Preston but after two years at Deepdale he was released in the summer and was picked up by Salford on a free transfer. Now aged 25, he is rebuilding his career at the Peninsula Stadium under the management of Karl Robinson. He has made 19 appearances this term and scored three goals and the stability he has been offered at the League Two club could prove to be the springboard to relaunch his career. A trip to the Premier League champions in front of the BBC cameras on Saturday evening will give him the platform to do just that.