Making his European debut, and only his fifth professional club appearance, Kelleher made fine saves from Noussair Mazraoui and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to ensure Liverpool progressed to the last 16, with Klopp fulsome in his praise for the Cork-born shot-stopper afterward.
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Kelleher was something of a surprise starter, preferred to the more experienced Adrian, but now looks certain to keep his place for the visit of Wolves, in what will be his Premier League debut. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Klopp said: “Yes, he has [impressed] but in life, you have to prove things.
“Now he got the chance and I think he convinced everybody. He didn’t have to convince us, obviously – we thought it will be like this. But he convinced everybody, that’s good.”
“He supported Caoimhin in an exceptional way. After he got the information that he would not start, he behaved unbelievably. Really, really a lot of respect for that. He expected it actually, but anyway a lot of respect for it.
Liverpool could welcome back both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Naby Keita for Sunday’s game, with the pair set to return to team training on Friday. Thiago Alcantara, Xherdan Shaqiri, James Milner, Joe Gomez, and Virgil van Dijk, though, remain sidelined, along with Alisson.