Liverpool's goalkeeper coach John Achterberg has revealed he asked Caoimhin Kelleher to take a penalty in training ahead of the Carabao Cup final.
The Reds lifted the trophy on Sunday after beating Chelsea 11-10 on penalties at Wembley.
As every single outfield player on both teams calmly put away their spot kicks, it all came down to the goalkeepers.
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Kelleher and Chelsea shot stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga went up against each other, but it was Liverpool's no.2 that scored the winning penalty.
Now, Achterberg has revealed he asked the Ireland international to practice taking a penalty, as well as saving them, in the final session before Sunday's showpiece.
“I told Caoimhin to take one himself before we went in because you never know, but it was more a joke than being serious,” Achterberg revealed to The Athletic.
“I certainly didn’t think it would come down to him taking one in front of 85,000 under so much pressure on Sunday but he stayed calm and put it away brilliantly.”
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was full of praise for the 23-year-old and admitted in his post-match press conference that Kelleher is the 'best no.2 in the world'.
Klopp said: "I don't know exactly when I saw Caoimh for the first time, but it's quite the journey.
"I see them in decisive moments and the development is absolutely top class but Alisson Becker is the best goalkeeper in the world for me.
"But to be 100 per cent honest, for me, Kelleher is the best No.2 in the world, especially for the way we play."
