‘Phenomenal’… Chris Sutton says Liverpool have a ‘young’ player who’s been simply brilliant recently

Add as preferred source on Google

There have been a number of highly unlikely heroes emerging from Liverpool’s season recently.

With the Reds having so many big performers out injured, they’ve had to rely on players who usually wouldn’t have been so heavily used.

To a man though, those young and back-up players have stepped up remarkably well. Sunday’s draw with Manchester City was more evidence of this, with Liverpool unlucky not to win against the champions.

One of those to stand up brilliantly against City – and in each of the past eight games – was Caoimhin Kelleher. Coming in for Alisson Becker was never going to be an easy task, but Kelleher has done it perfectly. This hasn’t been lost on onlookers, with pundit Chris Sutton the latest to praise the Irishman on BBC 5 Live’s Monday Night Club yesterday.

“He’s been phenomenal for one so young,” Sutton raved. “He’s not the only player doing well but blimey, the composure he has.

“Rory [Smith] spoke on an earlier show about Alisson being the best player in the Premier League this season. I’m not necessarily going to argue with that, but that tells you how big his gloves have been to fill but Kelleher’s done that brilliantly. All the young players have stepped up when they’ve needed to.”

‘Phenomenal’ Kelleher earning his stripes

The improvement in Kelleher over the last two months has been nothing short of remarkable. The Ireland international was thrust into the spotlight virtually overnight and has not disappointed at all.

After bursting through a couple of years ago, Kelleher had looked to have the makings of being a top ‘keeper. But in truth, he stagnated a little last season and with clubs seemingly interested in signing him, it could have been a mistake not to cash in.

Well, thank heavens Liverpool didn’t. It isn’t worth thinking about where they’d be right now had they not been able to call on Kelleher.

Of course, he isn’t at the level of Alisson nor his counterpart on Sunday, Ederson. But there was one goalkeeper on show at the weekend who cost his team a goal, and it wasn’t the man in all black.

Instead, Kelleher was once again positive and aggressive in his goalkeeping. Although not forced to contend with too much, the academy graduate made one particularly good one-on-one stop against the in-form Phil Foden.

That moment captured the confidence with which Kelleher is playing right now. Previously looking a little passive and unsure, Caoimh now appears completely assured of what he is doing.

It’s testament to him that Liverpool really haven’t missed Alisson at all. The Brazilian will rightfully come straight back into the team once fit again, but Kelleher has been the most able of deputies.

Quite what his future lies remains to be seen. Given his form, Kelleher deserves to be a No.1 somewhere. Unless anything unforeseen happens, Liverpool won’t be able to fulfil that immediate ambition. For now though, he’s the main man at Anfield.