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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Oisin Doherty

Caoimhin Kelleher the best young goalkeeper I've ever seen - Andy Lonergan

Everton goalkeeper Andy Lonergan believes that Caoimhin Kelleher is the best goalkeeper he has ever seen at that age.

The Cork shot-stopper is just 24 years old and has been with Liverpool since 2015. The youngster made his debut for the Reds in 2019 and has since become a more than able deputy to Alisson Becker of Brazil.

Over the past three seasons, Kelleher has played 18 times in total for Liverpool with the vast majority of those coming in cup competitions. The nine times capped Irish International played a starring role in Liverpool's League Cup win last season and earned huge praise for his penalty-saving heroics in the final.

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Lonergan is one of those that is effusive in his praise for Kelleher. The Northern Irishman played with Kelleher at Liverpool for a season, and was blown away by the talented keeper.

“Caoimhin Kelleher, what a goalkeeper he is going to be," said Lonergan. "He’s the best young keeper I have ever seen.

"He’s by far the best young goalkeeper I have ever seen. The penalties as well, yeah, he’s brilliant, what a goalkeeper."

Jurgen Klopp is also a huge fan of the young keeper. The Liverpool boss has repeatedly praised the Irishman to the hilt, and after Kelleher made history as the hero in yet another penalty shootout against Derby in the League Cup last month, he spoke glowingly of Kelleher.

Klopp said, “We never hold him back or say, ‘Caoimhin, you can’t play’. He’s exceptional, absolutely exceptional. Not had the best season so far because he came back from holiday and was injured.

"It took a really long time to get him back in training and back to speed. But obviously he’s ready now.

“The goalkeeper coaches are doing an incredible job. He’s their product, and I’m sure they would say exactly the same. What they do with him, they develop a modern goalie.

"As calm as you like, can play football and on top of that can catch balls and keep the ball out of the net in a really good manner. That’s really good."

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