Caoimhin Kelleher may not have been a constant between the posts, but his impact in big moments is inspiring Liverpool’s next wave of goalkeepers.
For a goalkeeper who made only 67 appearances across six years around the first team, Kelleher has a legacy befitting of a figure who played far more often for the Reds.
It was his influence mainly in the Carabao Cup, winning two of them, that leaves him with a legacy befitting the AXA Training Centre walls.
With a potential first Liverpool appearance to come in Wednesday’s fourth-round tie against Crystal Palace, new goalkeeper Freddie Woodman is taking inspiration from Kelleher.
“It’s clear that this club takes the competition seriously, like it does every competition,” the summer signing told Liverpoolfc.com.
“When you get to the latter stages, you go to Wembley and you see how important it is to the fans.
“We train in the goalkeeping area at the AXA Training Centre and I regularly see the photo of Caoimhin Kelleher on the wall after his success in the recent finals, and that’s how important it is.
“You can really write yourself into history if you win trophies at this club, so I know how important it is and the club recognises how important this competition is too.”
Due to Alisson‘s injury, Woodman’s fellow new signing, Giorgi Mamardashvili, has been playing in goal for Liverpool.
However, he could be rested against Palace, which would leave Woodman to start at Anfield, something that must have seemed unimaginable this time last year.
At 28 years old, Woodman signed from Preston on a free transfer but wouldn’t have expected to feature with two clear choices ahead of him.
“Any time I get to pull on the jersey for this club, whether it be a pre-season game or whatever competition, I’ll always just try to do my best and enjoy the moment, because I’ve spent a lot of time playing in the Championship and so to play for a club with this history is pretty special,” the goalkeeper said.
“I’ve played consistently over the last five or six years, albeit in the Championship and a few Premier League games.
“I wanted to keep playing and I’m only 28, but there was a conversation in the summer where Liverpool came up. I had other options but my dad said to me, ‘How do you turn down Liverpool? You just can’t do it.’
“I’m very happy with my decision because I get to work with the best players in the world and I get to work up close with Ali and Giorgi, who are top goalkeepers who I think are only going to make me better and help my development.”
Woodman has only played 90 minutes in total across two pre-season matches since joining from Preston.
He is, though, right-footed, which could be an advantage for Liverpool’s defenders given they have been insistent on passing to Mamardashvili’s weaker right foot!
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