‘Exceptional talent’… Jurgen Klopp says 25-year-old Liverpool player is about to get a run in the first-team

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Jurgen Klopp has praised the progress and development of Liverpool academy graduate Caoimhin Kelleher.

Kelleher is set to deputise for Liverpool as first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker sits out for a couple of weeks with injury. It’s a big moment for the Irishman, who has played just 27 times in the four years since his debut.

And speaking to the press ahead of tomorrow’s game against Fulham, Klopp looked back on Kelleher’s journey at Liverpool so far, whilst backing him for the upcoming period.

“We see him every day in training, he’s an exceptional talent,” raved the Reds’ manager. “Maybe we don’t mention his name [Kelleher’s] often enough.

“It’s a [goalkeeping coach] John Achterberg thing. From day one when I came in he told me ‘this will be our home-grown boy who will make it’. Since then, we saw every step, he was a boy, now he’s a man. A top goalie, no doubt.”

Kelleher gets Klopp backing

Klopp has always been effusive in his praise for Kelleher. Although the Liverpool boss generally speaks very highly of young players, it says a lot that the ‘keeper has stuck around in Jurgen’s plans despite not playing much.

If the coach didn’t really believe the statements he makes about the 25-year-old, then he’d have probably shipped him out by now.

Certainly, Kelleher has plenty of admirers and would be welcomed at a number of top division sides. But Klopp has always opposed an exit.

That remained the same this summer. In the same press conference the German admitted that he’d held discussions with Caoimhin about leaving ahead of this season.

But with Liverpool unable to find a ‘solution,’ Kelleher ended up staying.

He may have been frustrated at the prospect of having to spend another season on the bench, but as it has transpired, the Ireland international now has a golden opportunity.

He isn’t going to displace Alisson, no matter how well he plays, but Kelleher can at least feel how it is to be Liverpool’s undisputed No.1 for a temporary time.

Beyond that, his future remains unknown. What is clear though, is that Liverpool have brought through an excellent goalkeeper who they can be proud of.

Go on and smash it, Caoimh!