Caoimhin Kelleher could not have been a relentless between the posts, however his impression in massive moments is inspiring Liverpool’s subsequent wave of goalkeepers.
For a goalkeeper who made solely 67 appearances throughout six years across the first crew, Kelleher has a legacy befitting of a determine who performed much more typically for the Reds.
It was his affect primarily within the Carabao Cup, successful two of them, that leaves him with a legacy befitting the AXA Coaching Centre partitions.
With a possible first Liverpool look to return in Wednesday’s fourth-round tie in opposition to Crystal Palace, new goalkeeper Freddie Woodman is taking inspiration from Kelleher.
“It’s clear that this membership takes the competitors critically, prefer it does each competitors,” the summer season signing informed Liverpoolfc.com.
“If you get to the latter levels, you go to Wembley and also you see how essential it’s to the followers.
“We practice within the goalkeeping space on the AXA Coaching Centre and I frequently see the picture of Caoimhin Kelleher on the wall after his success within the current finals, and that’s how essential it’s.
“You may actually write your self into historical past when you win trophies at this membership, so I understand how essential it’s and the membership recognises how essential this competitors is simply too.”
As a consequence of Alisson‘s damage, Woodman’s fellow new signing, Giorgi Mamardashvili, has been taking part in in aim for Liverpool.
Nevertheless, he might be rested in opposition to Palace, which would depart Woodman to start out at Anfield, one thing that will need to have appeared unimaginable this time final yr.
At 28 years outdated, Woodman signed from Preston on a free switch however wouldn’t have anticipated to characteristic with two clear decisions forward of him.
“Any time I get to tug on the jersey for this membership, whether or not or not it’s a pre-season recreation or no matter competitors, I’ll at all times simply attempt to do my greatest and benefit from the second, as a result of I’ve spent a whole lot of time taking part in within the Championship and so to play for a membership with this historical past is fairly particular,” the goalkeeper stated.
“I’ve performed constantly over the past 5 – 6 years, albeit within the Championship and some Premier League video games.
“I wished to maintain taking part in and I’m solely 28, however there was a dialog in the summertime the place Liverpool got here up. I had different choices however my dad stated to me, ‘How do you flip down Liverpool? You simply can’t do it.’
“I’m very pleased with my choice as a result of I get to work with the perfect gamers on the earth and I get to work up shut with Ali and Giorgi, who’re prime goalkeepers who I feel are solely going to make me higher and assist my growth.”
Woodman has solely performed 90 minutes in complete throughout two pre-season matches since becoming a member of from Preston.
He’s, although, right-footed, which might be a bonus for Liverpool’s defenders given they’ve been insistent on passing to Mamardashvili’s weaker proper foot!
