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Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images
The Liverpool goalkeeper was named man of the match for his role in preserving a 1-0 Champions League victory over RB Leipzig.
For the second year in a row, Liverpool’s title hopes in the Premier League and Champions League will depend on the performances of backup goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, with the Republic of Ireland stopper again asked to step up following an Alisson Becker injury.
Having played a career-high 26 games in all competitions last season, Kelleher is up to four already in 2024-25 with a hamstring injury expected to sideline Alisson at least through the November international break and potentially beyond that into the month of December.
“It’s special to be back in this tournament especially and to get the clean sheet was nice,” said Kelleher of his chance to play in the Champions League again—when he filled in in Europe last season it was in the Europa League—following Wednesday’s 1-0 victory.
That win over Bundesliga co-leaders RB Leipzig saw Liverpool’s profligacy in front of goal force Kelleher to be the difference maker, with a number of key late saves preserving the three points for the Reds and leading the shot stopper to be named man of the match.
It also ensured Liverpool would end the third round of the new-look Champions League league phase top of the table, one of just two sides—along with Aston Villa—to manage to go three for three through the opening stages of Europe’s premier cup competition.
“I think that we probably dominated most of the game up until about maybe 70 minutes or just past that,” Kelleher added. “When it’s only 1-0 and you don’t get that second goal it’s difficult, and then they created a few chances, but the main thing is we got the win.
“A big part of that is thanks to clean sheets and defending. That’s what the team needs to be built on, especially in these away games. There’s going to be times when the home team gets on top and creates chances, so we need to be there to defend and make saves.”
