Liverpool name promising Irish keeper Caoimhin Kelleher in 21-man Champions League squad for Red Star
- Liverpool head to Serbia for Champions League group match against Red Star
- Caoimhin Kelleher travels with Liverpool as their third-choice goalkeeper
- Kelleher signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool back in August
Liverpool have named Irish goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher in their 21-man Champions League squad for Tuesday’s match away to Red Star Belgrade.
It marks another step in a whirlwind six months for the 19-year-old, who signed a new long-term contract at Anfield in August after impressing in pre-season.
He featured in Liverpool’s International Champions Cup games against Manchester City and Manchester United – the latter of which he started at the 107,000 ‘Big House’ stadium in Michigan as Liverpool won 4-1.
Liverpool named Caoimhin Kelleher (centre) in their Champions League squad for Red Star
Kelleher signed a new Liverpool contract in August after impressing during pre-season
‘It’s been crazy, playing the Man City and Man U games. I wasn’t expecting to play really, but to get the opportunity was just unbelievable,’ Kelleher said.
‘It was amazing, seeing all the crowd and stuff. I really enjoyed it. I trained with them (the senior side) last year but to actually play this year has been crazy. It’s been unreal.
‘I’ve been happy, I think I’ve done well. Every day we train hard with the ‘keepers, we all push each other to do our best every day and I think that’s all you can do really, do your best, so I’ve been happy.’
Kelleher is vying with Kamil Grabara to be Liverpool’s third choice goalkeeper behind Alisson and No 2 Simon Mignolet. He has yet to make an appearance for the senior Liverpool team.
While Irishman Kelleher appears to have the upper hand with him travelling to Serbia on Monday, Grabara has made one more appearance for the Liverpool Under 23s, playing five times so far this season.
Kelleher said his summer appearances against Manchester City and United ‘were unbelievable’
Kelleher is still to make his first senior appearance in a competitive game for Liverpool
Kelleher joined Liverpool from Ringmahon Rangers in April 2015.
Victory for Liverpool in Serbia would edge Jurgen Klopp’s side to the brink of the knock-out stages with an overall points tally of nine.
They lead Group C by a point after Napoli’s draw with Paris Saint-Germain in the last round of group matches.