Woodburn earns new deal

BEN WOODBURN’S outstanding progress at Liverpool is to be rewarded with a longer contract when he turns 18 next month. It has been a remarkable few days for Woodburn, whose displays against Austria and Moldova helped keep Wales in contention for a place in next summer’s World Cup finals. Woodburn is something of a flag-bearer for current Liverpool academy players after he became the youngest scorer in the club’s history last November. Liverpool gave Chester-born Woodburn his first professional contract last October — a threeyear deal — but those terms will be improved and extended when he turns 18 on October 15. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp would like Woodburn to develop away from the glare of publicity but holds a high opinion of the midfielder’s potential. Woodburn follows the example of right back Trent AlexanderArnold, handed a new deal last October after his 18th birthday.