02 March 2024 , 18:49
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Fairly soon, the whole footballing world will have to learn how to pronounce his name.
To a few who cannot be bothered with the simple task of finding out, his first name might be unpronounceable. But to many, Caoimhin Kelleher is unbeatable.
While the young outfield players have been hogging the credit for Liverpool surging through their fitness issues - and while Darwin Nunez was their hero with an ultra-dramatic winner deep into added time - no-one has been more valuable to Jurgen Klopp’s cause than his second-choice goalkeeper.
The idea of Kelleher being second choice for anyone next season is looking more and more like a preposterous notion. Kelleher did not have a vast workload in a contest that sprung into controversial life in the closing stages, but he produced what was, arguably, the most important intervention in the match.
Relatively early in the first half, Anthony Elanga sprung the Liverpool offside trap and bore down on goal in a central position and without a defender to worry about. A VAR check might have gone against Elanga but it was very close. And that is irrelevant anyway because Kelleher, as he so often does, saved brilliantly with his legs.
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And that was enough to secure a third consecutive clean sheet, taking his record to three goals conceded in the six most recent matches in which he has deputised for the injured Alisson.
More importantly, it means Nunez could head in the stunning winner a couple of minutes after Liverpool had not given possession back when play was stopped for a head injury when Forest had the ball in a decent position. But Forest only had themselves to blame for not clearing their lines when they had the chance in the 99th minute.
How important was Liverpool's win at Forest? Have your say in the comments section
Caoimhin Kelleher impressed in Liverpool's win at Nottingham Forest (Offside via Getty Images)There is no under-stating the importance of this dramatic Nunez goal, Liverpool snatching three points when some way below their best. It has become one of the game’s oldest cliches but winning when not managing to get out of second gear is the hallmark of trophy-winners.
And it is also becoming a Liverpool speciality, which is extremely useful when you have a treatment room as busy as the one at their training complex on Merseyside. Klopp will hope it continues but he also knows this sort of performance would be heavily punished by City, who arrive at Anfield next Sunday. The Liverpool boss will hope to have one particular big gun back for that one.
The emergence of the kids is one of the feelgood stories of the season - if you are a Liverpool fan, of course. But if you were being curmudgeonly in the extreme, their deeds could be put into some sort of context.
Darwin Nunez scored the winner at Forest in the absence of Mohamed Salah (AFP via Getty Images)They hit the headlines for a stirring fightback against Luton Town but Rob Edwards’ team are in a relegation spot for a reason. In the stirring Carabao Cup triumph, Chelsea missed gilt-edged chances to win the final in normal time and in the FA Cup at Anfield, Russell Martin fielded a Southampton reserve team that should have been a couple ahead inside half an hour. But, as mentioned, that would be curmudgeonly in the extreme.
Klopp, though, will be grateful when his injury crisis eases considerably and a relatively strong bench was a sign of encouragement for the Liverpool manager. But even without a marquee player such as Mohamed Salah in their ranks, Liverpool were always going to dominate a Forest team set up to operate solely on a counter-attacking basis.
Liverpool’s dominance was not matched by their dynamism, the physical demands on a depleted squad showing in a distinctly leggy first half performance. And, unsurprisingly, Klopp called on a couple of returning cavalry members just before the hour mark.
One of them was Nunez and after Elanga had put another glorious chance wide, the Uruguayan rose above a rooted Forest defence to head in Alexis Mac Allister’s ball. Cue local outrage but this, painfully for the home side, is what potential champions do.
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