Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher hopes yesterday’s stirring EFL Cup final win over Chelsea will be the catalyst for a trophy-laden end to the season.
Kelleher produced a string of fine saves, most notably from Cole Palmer and Conor Gallagher, to keep the game goalless and send it into extra-time with Virgil van Dijk then popping up with two minutes to go to nod in the winner.
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Liverpool are still fighting on three fronts – the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League – and the 25-year-old, standing in for the injured Alisson, hopes there will be more silverware to come as the players look to give departing coach Jurgen Klopp the perfect send off.
Kelleher told the club’s official website: “It’s a great kickstart for the rest of the season.
“We still have plenty of competitions we want to go and do well in and win some, so moments like this give you extra motivation to want to go and do it again.
“The reaction with the fans and the whole team, how buzzing everyone was, I think that kind of sums it up. It’s a great way to kickstart the rest of the season and we are delighted.”
Absolutely world class from Caoimhin Kelleher ⛔ PIC.TWITTER.COM/WO5F0BKTMH
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) FEBRUARY 25, 2024
Liverpool’s current injury woes meant a host of young players, including Jayden Danns, James McConnell and Bobby Clark, were on the field when Van Dijk scored.
Kelleher paid tribute to the club’s academy for the amount of talent coming through, adding: “To be fair, looking around there’s a lot of young players and I used to be one of them. Now I’m not one of them anymore and I thought they were excellent today.
“All the young lads that came in were absolutely superb and it’s a testament to the academy and everyone there, the coaches…they came in today and they didn’t look out of place.”
The Irishman was also quick to praise the contribution of the more experienced players, in particular Van Dijk and his central defensive partner Ibrahima Konate.
“Those two were brilliant and Jarell [Quansah] when he came on as well,” he said. “To have them there you can really lean on them at times when you need them and Virg especially, he’s been a great leader this season and he stepped up again today.
“So, to have them in front of me makes my job a hell of a lot easier.”
