Caoimhín Kelleher has certainly stepped up to the mark in the absence of Liverpool's first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Alisson is currently sidelined with injury at a pivotal point in the season for the Reds, with Premier League clashes with Arsenal and Manchester City on the horizon.
Corkonian Kelleher was between the sticks for Sunday's league win over Chelsea and was once again in goal for Wednesday night's Champions League victory away to RB Leipzig.
The Ireland #1 was in excellent form in Leipzig, earning Liverpool's in-house man-of-the-match award as Arne Slot's side held on for a tight 1-0 victory to continue their flawless start to the Champions League campaign.
Caomihin Kelleher is forced into two saves within as many minutes with the second seeing the Liverpool and Ireland goalkeeper tipping Xavi Simons' effort over #RBLLIV #UCL
📱 Updates - https://t.co/w9EjpuGn6T
📺 Watch live - https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7 pic.twitter.com/E3i5Rbw0s4— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 23, 2024
It was a rare chance for Kelleher on European football's biggest stage. The Irishman's last appearance in this competition was in September 2020 against FC Midtjylland.
Speaking to Liverpool's media team post-match, Kelleher said that he was eager to show manager Slot that he was capable of pushing Alisson for the first-choice jersey.
All I can do is play well when I get the chance and give the manager something to think about. Most importantly is that I do well when I do get the opportunities and show what I'm about.
One of the lads asked me before the game when was my last Champions League game. I think it was maybe three years ago. It's special to be back in this tournament and to get the clean sheet was nice.
A big part of that is the clean sheets and the defending, that’s what the team needs to be built on...there’s obviously going to be times when the home team gets on top and creates chances, but we need to be there to defend and make saves. That’s the most important thing.
It would be a tall order to usurp Alisson as first-choice but, nonetheless, Liverpool fans have been consistently impressed with Kelleher's excellence when deputising for the Brazilian.
However, Troy Deeney would seemingly play down the 25-year-old's brilliant performance, questioning whether he would be capable of consistently putting in such performances if a regular in the Liverpool team.
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Troy Deeney gives inexplicable read of Caoimhín Kelleher's performance v RB Leipzig
Former Watford forward Troy Deeney appeared on CBS Sports' coverage of Wednesday's Champions League action - and gave a strange response when asked about Caoimhín Kelleher's brilliant performance against RB Leipzig.
“He has come in for a very small period, 8 or 9 games to deliver.” 🧤@T_Deeney reacts to Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher’s performance against RB Leipzig ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/XNTsh0Aer8
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 23, 2024
Despite Kelleher making six saves on the night (including some brilliant shot-stopping acrobatics), Deeney played down the Irishman's performance.
Deeney would appear to suggest that much of his bright performance was to be credited to Virgil van Dijk and the defence ahead of him, before questioning his ability to put in positive performances consistently.
He’s come in for very small periods, eight, nine games to deliver. He’s got the best centre-back in world football in front of him, probably one of the best right-backs and a real good team that’s organised and set up.
There’s not one save he’s made there that’s a top save. There’s one where he comes rushing out and they should score because he comes rushing out.
Doing it over a 40 game season and over eight games at a time is completely different. I just think when you’re in this situation I want to see a little bit more from him. Will he go on to do it? I don’t know.
It's hard to know what "more" Deeney wants to see from Caoimhín Kelleher.
There are a few undeniable truths in the pundit's takes. Yes, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold form part of Europe's best defence and, yes, Kelleher has generally only ever seen a short run of games given Alisson's persistent excellence.
However, when Kelleher has come into the team, he has rarely if ever let Liverpool down. Oftentimes coming in with little match fitness, Kelleher has been an essential player in two EFL Cup triumphs over the past three seasons and earned widespread plaudits for his run in the team last season.
And, even though the defence in front of him are consistently excellent, he was still called upon to make six saves against top-quality European opposition on Wednesday evening - something he did with aplomb.
Caoimhín Kelleher does indeed need more regular game time. Nothing about his performances at club level, though, should reasonably create doubt about his ability to deliver on a regular basis.
