Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has won four penalty shoot-outs in 18 games, he's a cheat code
Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher continues to be an absolute master of penalty shoot-outs, having helped his side to another victory on Wednesday night.
The Reds were held to a 0-0 draw by League One side Derby County and so the Carabao Cup tie went all the way to penalties.
For a moment it looked like the holders were going to be dumped out when Stefan Bajectic's opening spot-kick was saved by Derby keeper Joe Wildsmith and then Roberto Firmino, fresh from being omitted from Brazil's World Cup squad, blazed his effort over the bar.
But not for the first time, Kelleher, proved to be the hero. The Republic of Ireland international saved three penalties, denying Conor Hourihane, Craig Forsyth and Lewis Dobbin from 12 yards.
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The stop to thwart Dobbin gave Harvey Elliott the chance to secure the victory for Liverpool and he did just that with a cool penalty that made it 3-2 to them on penalties.
Kelleher was making just his 18th appearance for Liverpool and he has won the most penalty shoot-outs in the club's history with four.
Caoimhin Kelleher.
— DJ™️ (@ChiesaLFC) November 9, 2022
That’s it. That’s the tweet. pic.twitter.com/OFIbXhFw8m
He's saved a club-record six spot-kicks across eight Carabao Cup games and memorably scored the winner in the final against Chelsea at Wembley last season.
Reacting to the aforementioned stat, manager Jurgen Klopp said: "In history? Wow. They were really good penalties. They were all going into the corner, it's not like there was a bad one.
"He is absolutely exceptional. He's a modern goalie. As calm as you like. He can play football and on top of that he can keep the ball out of the net.
"I am over the moon for him. When he smiles you know it means a lot for him. There are still a lot of goalkeeping years to come from him."
Given his performances in the competition, before the game Liverpool assistant coach Pep Lijnders had said it would be a "disgrace" if he didn't start ahead of Alisson Becker.
The 23-year-old has become something of a penalty specialist and produced what appeared to be the world's first rabona spot-kick save against Norwich last season.
Rabona save from Kelleher to top the night off, if that's a thing - it is now, I guess. pic.twitter.com/tW8RBHZzNp
— DaveOCKOP (@DaveOCKOP) September 21, 2021
He made the save in extremely unorthodox fashion, with his legs in a crossing motion after adjusting his feet brilliantly.
Topics: Liverpool, Derby County, Carabao Cup
Josh Lawless