Caoimhín Kelleher will start the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, and his captain Jordan Henderson has come out in defence of the Irishman.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp announced after Liverpool's semi-final win over Arsenal that Kelleher would start for the final in Wembley, in a move that drew criticism from some corners.
Jamie Carragher was among those opposed to the move, stating that a club should always play their "best" keeper in a major final.
But Kelleher's teammate Henderson has retaliated with glowing praise of the young Cork goalkeeper, and fully backed his manager's decision ahead of Sunday's showpiece.
Carabao Cup Final: Jordan Henderson backs Klopp decision to start Caoimhín Kelleher
Caoimhín Kelleher has continued grown in stature at Anfield over the past year. The 23-year-old from Cork has worked his way ahead of experienced Brazilian keeper Adrian to become the club's firm #2, and has been a crucial part of Liverpool's run to the Carabao Cup final.
4 Carabao Cup games this season. 3 clean sheets and a penalty shootout hero.
Caoimhin Kelleher deserves this opportunity on Sunday. He’s going to take it. pic.twitter.com/TQ97grdMRd— Anfield Edition (@AnfieldEdition) February 25, 2022
He will start in the final against Chelsea on Sunday and, despite criticism from some quarters, Jordan Henderson came out in full support of the young Irishman in his media sessions ahead of the final:
I think he's been outstanding. All the games he's come in, he's been outstanding in everything he's done.
He's a fantastic lad, very level-headed. As a keeper: shot-stopping is fantastic, distribution is amazing - and so calm as well. He's learning from the best keeper in the world day-in-day-out, which will help him.
He's always had that calmness about him - even when he makes big saves he has that calming presence about him which I really like.
High praise indeed from Jordan Henderson, and the comparison with Brazilian shot stopper Alisson is a huge compliment to Kelleher.
Kelleher is unlikely to have been phased by the comments from the likes of Jamie Carragher, but the support from his club captain will nonetheless surely be welcomed.
2021 was a big year for Kelleher, who made his Ireland debut against Hungary in June, before going on to move himself up the pecking order at Anfield.
The highlight of his season thus far will have been the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup, when he saved two penalties in the penalty shootout against Leicester to help Liverpool through to the last four.
One of the only two Premier League appearances of the season for Kelleher came against Sunday's opponents Chelsea. Despite conceding two goals, he acquitted himself well between the sticks. That performance at Stamford Bridge in January will give him confidence ahead of Sunday's final.
It's hard to argue that Caoimhín Kelleher has not earned the right to start for Liverpool on Sunday. The hope for Irish fans will be that this is only the first in a string of finals for the Corkman,
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