Jurgen Klopp has hailed Caoimhin Kelleher as a "top class goalie" after his display at Arsenal helped Liverpool reach the Carabao Cup final.
The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper pulled off a number of fine saves as Liverpool won 2-0 at The Emirates to book a date with Chelsea in next month's final at Wembley.
Klopp's number-2 Pep Lijnders this week described the League Cup as "Caoimhin's competition", and the Corkonian looks odds-on to start under the arch on February 27.
Speaking ahead of Sunday's Premier League trip to Crystal Palace, Klopp heaped praise on Kelleher's development under the club's goalkeeping coach, John Achterberg.
"He is no.2 at Liverpool, which I would say was one of the highest rates," said the Liverpool boss, "I don't think you could be rated much higher.
"We are more than happy with him, absolutely.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says he is more than happy with the progress of goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher! 📈 pic.twitter.com/GIt8A230tS
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 21, 2022
"This is a John Achterberg project. There were a lot of steps to go since I arrived here.
"When I saw him first time, a skinny boy from Ireland standing in this big goal, it was like, 'OK, it could take a while until he fills it'.
"Since then he made incredible steps, and now he's a top class goalie. Definitely.
"Calm like you cannot believe, good with the ball and, on top of that, makes incredible saves.
"So he enjoys the work with John, Jack [Robinson], Taffa [Claudio Taffarel] and the other goalies because what can you do better in this age than learn from the best goalie in the world.
"So all of these things are good for him, and we're more than happy to have him."
Unfortunately for Klopp, all is not rosy in his garden ahead of the game at Selhurst Park, with a couple of injury headaches with which to contend.
But after missing Thursday night's win at Arsenal, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has resumed training and is contention to face Palace.
Joel Matip was taken off at half-time at The Emirates, and Fabinho took what Klopp described as a "proper knock" in the challenge that cost Thomas Partey a red card.
"Ox, we hope and pray, he was running yesterday but we don’t know what that exactly means for today," said Klopp, "It would be helpful if he could train before the game. I don’t know yet.
“The rest as far as I know were only knocks. Yes, we got knocks, proper knocks. Wow, second yellow from Partey against Fabinho, that was a proper knock.
“I didn’t hear anything so that’s most of the time positive, but sometimes I get surprised after the press conference. But I don’t know anything else.”
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