KEY POINTS

  • Keller saved three penalties against Derby County
  • He has won more penalty shootouts than any other Liverpool goalkeeper
  • Liverpool's next game is against Southampton in the Premier League

Caoimhin Kelleher, who is developing a reputation for his penalty-saving skills, feels it is difficult to be Liverpool's second-choice goalkeeper but hopes he will receive more game time this season.

The cup competitions – League Cup and FA Cup – have been earmarked to Kelleher, who is Liverpool's No. 2 shot-stopper after Brazil's Alisson Becker. Kelleher was once again Liverpool's penalty shootout hero Wednesday as he made three amazing saves against Derby County to send Jurgen Klopp's side to the fourth round of the League Cup.

Last season, Kelleher helped Liverpool win two trophies – FA Cup and League Cup – in penalty shootouts.

By winning the latest penalty shootout against Derby County, Kelleher took his shootout victories to four – the most by a Liverpool goalkeeper in their entire 130-year history. The Irish player reached the milestone in just 18 appearances.

Speaking after the match at Anfield, Kelleher said even though he does not play regularly for Liverpool, he approaches "everyday like I'm going to play."

"I approach every day like I'm going to play. I have to be ready to play – anything can happen anytime. I've trained with the goalie group every day, it's a really good group to work with so I enjoy going in every day and trying to work hard. At the same as well it's difficult not getting the games, but like I say the more we do well in cup competitions like this the more game time I can hopefully get," Kelleher told reporters after the Reds' opening League Cup fixture.

Young Harvey Elliot scored the decisive penalty for reigning champions Liverpool on Wednesday.

Liverpool are on course for a quadruple of trophies after winning the League Cup in February
Liverpool defeated Chelsea in the League Cup final last season AFP / JUSTIN TALLIS

Liverpool boss Klopp also heaped praise on Kelleher, who joined the club's academy in 2015.

"Tonight they were three really good penalties, they all go in the corner, so it's not like it's a bad one and they mishit the ball or slip a little bit before they shoot. No, they were really good and he saved them anyway, so that's massive," Klopp said.

Liverpool have one more game, which is against Southampton in the Premier League, before the international break for the FIFA World Cup. The marquee tournament is scheduled to begin on Nov. 20 in Qatar.

Soccer