Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes that the club would have no chance of being in the position they are in without Ireland's Caoimhin Kelleher.
The Merseyside club is on the hunt for two trophies, having already won the Carabao Cup in February. They now hunt for the Premier League and the Europa League.
Alisson Becker, who is Liverpool's disputed number 1, has been injured for some time, and there had been an expectation that the club would drop off in terms of results and performance.
However, that has not been the case, and Kelleher, a backup to Alisson, has performed admirably in goal during his layoff.
Liverpool play Sheffield United tonight in what is expected to be one of Kelleher's last games before Alisson returns to the starting lineup eventually.
Klopp, who has never been shy to praise his goalkeeper, believes that Kelleher's time in goal and how his other players have stepped in to fill other players' shoes while injured have been exceptional. He also thinks that the club wouldn't have been able to have the season it's had without them.
“If you would have asked me before the season, I think I was never shy of praising Caoimh," said the German
“You can take Ali out for a long spell; it would have been a problem not because of Caoimh but because he never had to play that many games, so you never know how that will look. What happens if Trent is out for a long time? Joe and Conor obviously, then Conor was injured and picked up from there.
“Had both left-backs out—first Robbo out, Kostas steps in, then Kostas out and Joe steps in.
“All these kinds of things and how these boys deal with the situation and the new opportunities are just exceptional. So many players have been out for a long time, and we are still where we are; that’s pretty special. You cannot expect that.
“I’m absolutely over the moon for the boys that they can prove their point. I was never in doubt about them but they still have to prove it themselves so that’s wonderful. Absolutely outstanding season; without Caoimhin Kelleher, no chance to be in the position we are.”
Liverpool play Sheffield United tonight at 7.30.
