THE FUTURE IS IN SAFE HANDS

As Woodman signs as cover we look at how the club's long-term plans between the sticks are coming together

- By PAUL GORST

THE evolution of Liverpool's goalkeeping department continues with the addition of Freddie Woodman from Preston North End.

The 28-year-old will join at the start of July when his contract at Deepdale expires to provide added cover for Alisson Becker, who will face competition from the arrival of £29m Giorgi Mamardashvili this summer.

Woodman is viewed as experienced and dependable cover, should it be needed, for the first team following the loan moves of Vitezslav Jaros and Harvey Davies, who have joined Ajax and Crawley Town respectively this summer.

Most crucially, though, the former Newcastle United shot-stopper won't take up one of the 17 permitted non home-grown spots in the Reds' squad when they confirm their 25-man group for the Champions League group stages.

Woodman becomes the third goalkeeper that has agreed to move to the Premier League champions this summer following the capture of Georgia international Mamardashvili, a deal that was struck with Valencia last year, and the addition of Armin Pecsi, who signed from Hungarian side Puskas Akademia for £1.5m recently.

The new arrivals will give the goalkeeping team a new look about it at the AXA Training Centre this summer following the exit of Caoimhin Kelleher, whose time with the Reds came to an end when he signed for Brentford at the start of the month in a deal that could rise to £18.5m

The Ireland international had long been viewed as one of the finest No.2s in the Premier League but had been desperate to kick-start his time as a first choice and having been made to sit tight last summer, Kelleher finally got his move to the Bees after they sold Mark Flekken to Bayer Leverkusen.

The level of turnover in the goalkeeper ranks has been high but current No.1 Alisson Becker will remain first choice for Arne Slot next season.