Paul Robinson has heaped praise on Jurgen Klopp for selecting keeper Caoimhin Kelleher for Liverpool’s Carabao Cup victories over the MK Dons and Arsenal.
The Sky Sports pundit has tipped the 20-year-old to keep his spot for the quarter-final clash against Aston Villa in December after earning valuable experience in the competition.
Robinson claimed that Klopp highly-rates the young Irish international after picking him despite both Alisson and Adrian being available to him, adding it is perfect man-management of his players which can be a good influence on his game.
“Obviously the manager rates him, he’s got Adrian there but he’s played a lot with Alisson being out injured,” he told Football Insider.
“It’s a huge pat on the back for him and shows what the manager thinks of him and it’s very good man-management actually because should one of the first-choice two goalkeepers get injured, he’s there, he’s got a little bit of experience.
“I suspect he might even play him in the next round after the draw they’ve got.”
Kelleher made the all-important penalty save against the Gunners, and has since attracted interest from Championship side Preston North End [Daily Star].
OPINION
Robinson is right to heap praise on Klopp for his decision on the youngster in the game against Arsenal. With the clash being against a top Premier League side, it would have been easy for the German to give the nod to Adrian due to his experience, but Kelleher will never forget that night at Anfield. The 20-year-old could get the chance to feature against Villa, and it would be fully deserved – the Club World Cup clash the day after in Qatar means that Liverpool will be forced to name two separate sides and the fact that under-23’s manager Neil Critchley is set to take charge of that [Daily Mail], it could give him a big chance of playing. Then it would come to January, and it would be a smart decision for Klopp to allow Kelleher the chance to go out on loan and earn even more valuable experience in the Championship and build on the chances given to him at Anfield. As Robinson mentions, Klopp seems to be making all the right calls, and he will certainly have a plan for the second half of this season.
