Liverpool U23 coach Neil Critchley admits there's expectations of Ben Woodburn seeing more first team action this season.

Liverpool have blocked Woodburn from leaving on-loan, despite interest from his former Wales international manager Chris Coleman in taking him to Sunderland.

Asked if the plan was to get Woodburn more first team action, Critchley said: "Definitely - and I'm sure Ben will be thinking the same. He'll see the likes of Marko Grujic going out (on loan) and possibly one or two others.

"He was on the bench the other day (New Year's Day at Burnley) so he'll be thinking he's got a chance in and around the first team squad. If it means he plays some games for us then great, he's still young and needs to play games to develop.

"If that's with us, brilliant, but ultimately what he wants and what we want is the same which is to play games for our first team.

"He'll have the UEFA Youth League as well which will kick off again in February, so he will have games and hopefully that will be with the first team rather than us."

Critchley said that the player - who has generally been in midfield rather than further forward this year - would be well aware of the situation.

"I'm sure the manager (Klopp) has spoken to him to explain what his plan is, the manager is good with the younger players and speaks to them a lot.

"So I'm sure Ben is aware of the situation. Like Rhian (Brewster), he's a down to earth humble person and I'm sure he's not worried about the situation.

"He's training at Melwood every single day with world-class players so that's not bad for a boy's development at 18."