Jurgen Klopp praised the heroics of Caoimhin Kelleher after Liverpool booked their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a 3-0 win over Southampton at Anfield.
Teenagers Lewis Koumas and Jayden Danns (2) scored in either half to seal an impressive fifth-round triumph for a heavily-rotated Reds side that is currently negotiating a huge injury crisis at the AXA Centre.
Prior to 18-year-old forwards Koumas and Danns finding the back of the net, Kelleher was called into action throughout the first half and produced a string of excellent stops to deny Kamaldeen Sulemana and Skou Mara from putting the Saints ahead.
The Republic of Ireland international, who has deputized admirably for the injured Alisson Becker since he sustained a hamstring injury earlier this month, is enjoying the most prolific season of his Anfield career, with Wednesday’s outing taking him to 17 appearances across the Premier League, Europa League and domestic competitions.
Speaking after the game, Klopp insisted his side’s last two successes – including Sunday’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley – would not have been possible without Kelleher, who was linked with a move away from Anfield in the summer to the likes of Nottingham Forest, while recent speculation has suggested he is now wanted by Celtic.
“[I] said it before, said it last year, said it two years ago, said it very often actually, exceptional goalkeeper. Goalkeepers need rhythm,” said Klopp.
“There was the situation in the summer obviously. Caoimh knows, he is a confident boy, he knows he can play in other teams but he has Alisson Becker as the No.1.
“We gave him the Europa League games and I think that made a real difference because it was the Carabao Cup and the Europa League games, I don’t know how many there are, and then unfortunately Ali got injured and he had to play, and got the rhythm. Now we can see what Caoimh is.
