When Freddie Woodman jogged onto the Goodison turf, few would have predicted he'd become one of the afternoon's talking points. Yet here we are, with Arne Slot singling out the emergency keeper for special praise after Liverpool's Merseyside Derby triumph.

Woodman's introduction came at one of those knife-edge moments that define derbies. The kind where composure separates heroes from footnotes. And by all accounts, the 27-year-old delivered exactly what was needed when Liverpool needed it most.

Slot's post-match comments weren't just pleasantries. The Dutchman recognised something crucial about derby football: it's not always the superstars who determine outcomes. Sometimes it's the player you least expect, thrust into the spotlight, who steadies the ship when everything threatens to capsize.

What made Woodman's contribution particularly impressive was the context. Derby matches are emotional cauldrons at the best of times. To be thrown into that environment, at Goodison of all places, requires a special kind of mental strength. The kind that suggests this might not be the last time we see Woodman make headlines in red.

Slot's praise also reveals something about his management philosophy. He notices the details others miss. He values the moments that don't make the highlight reels but might just win you matches. In a squad blessed with talent, having a manager who recognises every contribution could prove invaluable as the season unfolds.

Woodman may have only played a supporting role in this derby story, but sometimes the supporting cast steal the show. Don't be surprised if this cameo becomes something more significant down the line.