For the past few transfer windows, Caoimhín Kelleher appeared to be at something of a crossroads at Liverpool.
The Irish goalkeeper has comfortably established himself as the club's second-choice goalkeeper. However, with Alisson ahead of him perhaps the finest 'keeper in the world, meaningful first-team opportunities are few and far between for Kelleher.
Rumours linked him with a move away from Anfield both last summer and even in January but the 25-year-old Corkman chose to stay and fight for his place - a decision which has, for now at least, been fully justified.
An injury to Alisson has meant a string of starts for Kelleher in the last three Premier League games, as well as last night's FA Cup victory against Southampton.
Of course, the highlight was Sunday's League Cup victory, in which Kelleher contended for man-of-the-match and kept a clean sheet as Liverpool won on a memorable Wembley day.
Speaking after Wednesday night's FA Cup action, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp summed up how vital Kelleher had been to keeping the team afloat in recent weeks.
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Jurgen Klopp heaps praise on Caoimhín Kelleher
In his post-match press conference, Klopp acknowledged that a move had been on the cards for Kelleher and said that the decision to start him in the group stages of the Europa League was a deliberate attempt to give him more game time:
I love it. Said it before, said it last year, said it two years ago, said it very often actually that he's an exceptional goalkeeper but goalkeepers need rhythm.
There was the situation in the summer obviously. He's a confident boy, he knows he can play in other teams but there is Alisson Becker, the No.1.
We gave him the Europa League games, I think that makes a real different because it was Carabao Cup and the Europa League games, I don't know exactly how many that [is] – 10, 12 already?
Then unfortunately Ali got injured, so he had to play and got the rhythm and now you can see what Caoimh is.
Kelleher was again excellent on Wednesday night as Liverpool beat Southampton 3-0 at Anfield but Sunday's League Cup final win over Chelsea was the highlight of his season thus far.
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A remarkable day at Wembley saw a Liverpool team scattered with academy players in the face of an injury crisis dramatically defeated Chelsea with a late Virgil van Dijk header.
That injury crisis has not only ruled out Alisson but also the attacking talent of Mo Salah, Darwin Nunez, and Diogo Jota, as well as defenders Joel Matip and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
With half of the Liverpool starting team out injured, cool heads were required, and Klopp praised Kelleher for saving the side during a difficult period:
He's an exceptional goalie but even they make mistakes from time to time. Thank God he didn't make one tonight because that kept us in the game – both games.
Call it the Caoimhín Kelleher games because without him in that shape and Ali injured, we wouldn't have won the Carabao Cup and wouldn't have won tonight. That's the goalie's job as well.
It's high praise but fully deserved for the Irish international, who will hope to wrestle the national team starting spot from Gavin Bazunu in the next international window.
Even if Alisson will likely slot straight back in when he returns from injury, the regular game time enjoyed by Caoimhín Kelleher can only be a positive for Irish fans - and the Corkman will feel that he has been justified in staying at Anfield.
Liverpool now face a mouthwatering trip to Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-finals, with the tie to take place on St. Patrick's Weekend.
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