'Been the difference': Liverpool told their 'brilliant' player was the key man for his country last night
Today at 03:00 AM
Liverpool players enjoyed a rather good evening on duty for their countries this Thursday.
The Reds have 17 players jetting off around the world to compete in various forms of international competition.
Curtis Jones stole most of the headlines after a goal-scoring debut for England. As the reaction continues to pour in, Steven Gerrard has given his verdict on Jones’ England display.
But just before the Scouser flicked the Three Lions into a 3-0 lead in Athens, fellow Liverpool academy graduate Caoimhin Kelleher was saving a penalty for Ireland.
Kelleher has been in brilliant form for Liverpool, standing in for Alisson Becker as only he can.
And having long since nailed down the number one shirt for Ireland, the 25-year-old continued to show his burgeoning talent as he kept goal against Finland.
Caoimhin Kelleher ‘the difference’ for Ireland
Liverpool fans have known it for a while of course, but the wider world are now cottoning on to just how good a goalkeeper Kelleher is.
The Irishman is clearly far too good to be a back-up and Kelleher’s future almost certainly lies away from Liverpool.
But, in the meantime, he’s ours. And we could hardly be prouder.
As he has so often done for the Reds over the past five years, Kelleher came up trumps for Ireland against Finland, saving Joel Pohjanpalo’s 77-minute spot-kick to keep Ireland ahead.
READ MORE: English media deliver brutal verdict on Kostas Tsimikas after Greece defeat
And reviewing the save for BBC Sport, Liverpool and Ireland legend Ronnie Whelan praised what he’d just seen from Kelleher.
“He is a keeper this lad!” Whelan raved. “What a save down low and then he gets a kick in his head for the troubles. What a save, he has been brilliant all season for Liverpool.
“Caoimhin Kelleher has been the difference tonight for me,” Whelan later added as the Boys in Green secured the three points.
Caoimhin Kelleher comes up big
At this point, there is very little more that can be added to just how impressive Kelleher is.
It has been opined many times over by now, but there really cannot be a better second choice goalkeeper in all of world football.
Against Finland, Kelleher proved that once again.
The penalty was not the only shot that he had to save. In fact, Kelleher faced four efforts with an xGOT value of 2.24.
In essence, that means that the Liverpool ‘keeper should have conceded at least twice against Finland. That he kept a clean sheet is somewhat remarkable. This was another top, top performance from a player who is getting better by the game.
