Liverpool won a first domestic cup competition in a decade when they defeat Chelsea in a penalty shoot-out at Wembley yesterday, with a certain Irishman capturing many of the headlines in the aftermath of the game.
Goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher put in an excellent display over the first 120 minutes of the Carabao Cup final, and while he would not save any spot kicks during the penalties, his own converted effort from 12 yards ended up being the winning penalty for his side.
Acting as Liverpool's deputy behind Alisson Becker, it was quite the show of faith from Jurgen Klopp to start him in that game. It was a reward for the Cork man's performances over the course of the competition, with the decision more than justified in the end.
Jurgen Klopp hails Caoimhín Kelleher as world's best No. 2
Speaking after the game, Klopp would go on to label Kelleher as the best backup goalkeeper in the game at the moment.
So I don't know when I saw Caoimhín the first time but it's true, it's quite a journey from when I saw him the first time, from the boy I saw the first time to the man he is today.
I saw from the first second that he is in an incredible talent. First John Achterberg, then Jack Robinson joined us since then as well, the boys are very, very positive.
And if you know how a football team works and you know that goalies are very often separate, so I don't see them all the time but I see them in decisive moments. So, the development is absolutely top-class. Alisson Becker is the best goalie in the world, for me. There are goalies out there but this goalie is absolutely insane.
But to be 100 per cent honest, for me Caoimhin Kelleher is the best No.2 in the world as well, especially for the way we play.
Nothing but ❤️
Caoimhin Kelleher has repaid his manager’s faith in this season’s #CarabaoCup! 👏 #EFL | @LFC pic.twitter.com/qzlsJTuI4l— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) February 27, 2022
At 23-years old, Kelleher still has relatively little experience at first team level. He has made 17 senior appearances for Liverpool to go along with his two caps for the Republic of Ireland. Despite this, he is forging a massive reputation.
Of course, the player himself will not want to become a career backup goalkeeper. The issue is that he finds himself behind one of the world's best in Alisson Becker at club level, while Gavin Bazunu is another immensely talented young goalkeeper that is currently first choice for Ireland.
Klopp admitted that filling that No. 2 role can be difficult, although Kelleher has done it brilliantly.
He had an incredible game. People asked me rightly two weeks ago or something if we will give Caoimhin another game to get some rhythm or whatever. To be 100 per cent honest, it was the first time I thought about it, 'Yeah, he has rhythm.'
But that's the life of a No.2, especially for a young No.2, that you just have to be ready when you are called. The game he played tonight was absolutely incredible. I'm not 100 per cent sure I have the full story of the whole game but I can remember at least two incredible saves – probably there were more.
So, he proved that the decision to line him up was absolutely right. And then in a very spectacular penalty shootout, he showed the whole range of his skillset. First and foremost, he's a goalkeeper but he finished one off with his really skilled feet. Top-class.
He may be among the best backups around at the moment, but that isn't a title that Caomhín Kelleher will want to hold onto for much longer.
SEE ALSO: Jamie Redknapp Was Fuming Over Kepa Substitution Decision & Penalty Antics
