23-year-old goalkeeper saves Liverpool
Draw 0-0 in the official 90 minutes, Liverpool and Derby County did not have to play extra time but immediately entered the penalty shootout. Here, 18-year-old Liverpool player Stefan Bajcetic was saved by Joe Wildsmith in the first turn. In the next turn, Kelleher corrected the junior when he pushed Conor Hourihane's left kick.
In the third turn, the 23-year-old goalkeeper continued to pour to the left to block Craig Forsyth's shot, giving Liverpool a chance to pass. But then, Roberto Firmino shot again with a flute foot over the bar.
In turn, Kelleher saved Lewis Norman Dobbin's left kick. This time, Harvey Elliott took advantage of success with a sinking kick to the right corner, against the direction of Wildsmith's judgment, bringing Liverpool 3-2 victory.
Kelleher's brilliant form helps Liverpool continue their journey to defend the League Cup title. Last season, it was Kelleher who helped Liverpool beat Chelsea 11-10 in the penalty shootout in the final at Wembley. In the decisive turn, while Kelleher finished accurately, his colleague Kepa Arrizabalaga shot into the sky, helping Liverpool win the League Cup for the first time under Jurgen Klopp.
Kelleher joined Liverpool's academy from Ringmahon Rangers in 2015, and was promoted to the first team in 2019. In December 2020, Kelleher started in the 4-0 Premier League win over Wolves, and became the youngest goalkeeper. Liverpool's keep a clean sheet in the tournament - with 22 years and 13 days. Then coach Jurgen Klopp pushed Kelleher into second choice in the woodwork, behind Alisson Becker and ahead of Adrian. In the summer of 2021, the 23-year-old goalkeeper extended his contract with Liverpool until 2026.
Yesterday, Klopp changed the entire squad compared to the 2-1 win over Tottenham in the Premier League over the weekend. Not only the reserve players like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Nathaniel Phillips or Joe Gomez, the German coach also gives opportunities to many young players such as 19-year-old right-back Calvin Ramsay, 17-year-old midfielder Bobby Clark, 18-year-old midfielder. Stefan Bajcetic Maquieira, 18-year-old winger Melkamu Frauendorf or 20-year-old striker Layton Stewart.
Liverpool's young squad remained dominant with 74 per cent of possession, finishing 19 times with six on target, compared with Derby County's six and three. Liverpool's first opportunity came in the 15th minute, with Oxlade-Chamberlain's volley. In the 31st minute, Stewart rose to the sky from Fabio Carvalho's cross. Two minutes later, goalkeeper Wildsmith made a bad clearance, but Kostas Tsimikas could not take advantage of the shot.
In the second half, Klopp threw first-team stars like Roberto Firmino, Darwin Nunez or Harvey Elliott into the field, but Liverpool could not score, and only had tickets to continue on the day Kelleher sublimated.
Before the 2022 World Cup, Liverpool still had a match against Southampton at Anfield in the 16th round of the Premier League on November 12. The team under Klopp is currently eighth with 19 points, seven points behind Tottenham - the fourth-placed team, but played one less game.
