MY ACCOUNT
Caoimhin Kelleher was the unlikely star as Liverpool triumphed on penalties against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final.
After making some big saves in the 120 minutes, the 23-year-old was unable to keep out any of the Blues’ efforts in the shootout.
But he was called upon to take the 11th spot kick and duly smacked it home before watching fellow stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga blast his effort way over the bar.
The unflappable Irishman impresses every time he is called upon and will likely play against Norwich in the FA Cup on Wednesday but may have to leave Liverpool to fulfil his potential.
The sentimental choice
Modern football is a ruthless business — just yesterday Marcelo Bielsa was sacked at Leeds after taking the club back to the Premier League following a 16-year hiatus.
But Klopp admitted after full-time at Wembley that it was a sentimental decision to play Kelleher and not undisputed No1 Alisson.
Klopp said: “It is so nice that it [his inclusion] paid off. He deserves it. I am two things, a football manager and a human being and the human being won this time.
“He is a young boy, we ask him to do a lot, he starts playing in the competition and then we get to the final and I tell him he cannot play.
“In professional football there should be space for sentiment.”
High praise
The young Irishman looked nothing like a second-choice keeper at Wembley, though.
He made four saves on the day, all from shots inside the box.
The two best came at the beginning and end of the 90 minutes — first to keep out Christian Pulisic and then using his feet to deny Romelu Lukaku at the death.
Afterwards, Klopp said: “Kelleher is the best No2 in the world. He had an incredible game.
“The life of a number two is you just have to be ready when you are called and the game he played tonight was absolutely incredible.”
Cool, calm and collected
Despite those saves, it is the decisive penalty that Kelleher will be remembered for among the Liverpool faithful.
With the score at 10-10 and only Kepa left to take for Chelsea, the Irishman stepped up and dispatched a brilliant penalty into the back of the net.
Kelleher looked like the calmest person in the stadium — as he often does when called upon to play.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp said: “I never thought for a second he would miss. But he also made great saves in the match and he never gets flustered.
“He is working with one of the best in the world [in Alisson] and that can only help. He is a credit and a young man with a big future. He is too good to be a number two.”
Despite being notoriously difficult to please, former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane is also an admirer.
The former Red Devils skipper, 50, praised Kelleher’s temperament when the keeper was brought into the Republic of Ireland squad during his stint as assistant to Martin O’Neill
Last month, Keane said: “Martin [O’Neil] brought him into the senior squad when we were with Ireland and what you’d say about him is he has a fantastic temperament and that’s what you need to be a good goalkeeper, particularly at the big clubs.
“He’s done very well, great with his feet, a real maturity about him when he came into the Irish squad when I was there with Martin — a real nice presence about him.
“He wasn’t giddy around the place. His training, his attitude was spot on and it’s good to see him get some minutes for Liverpool.”
Difficult decisions
Despite the praise given to Kelleher, no keeper grows up dreaming of being a No2.
At 23, 17 senior appearances is a tiny number even for a keeper and he now has a decision to make.
Usurping Alisson as the club’s first-choice seems a long shot, so leaving Anfield may be the only way he can play regular football.
Former Ireland international stopper Shay Given was calling for Kelleher to head out on loan in January — and the odd cup appearance is unlikely to change his mind.
Given said: “He’s not a kid anymore, 23 is an age where I think he should be playing regular first-team football.
“The biggest problem he has is that Alisson is ahead of him. Alisson is in the prime of his life and could be for the next five or six years.
“Does Kelleher sit there and be happy as a number two? They’ve got Adrian who can sit on the bench and back Alisson up.”
Kelleher will be delighted to pick up some silverware and a second Wembley appearance is also on the cards in the FA Cup. After that, he will have a decision to make.
