Jurgen Klopp branded Caoimhin Kelleher the world's best back-up goalkeeper after the Republic of Ireland star's penalty shoot-out heroics sealed Liverpool's Carabao Cup triumph over Chelsea.

Kelleher blasted the decisive spot-kick before Kepa Arrizabalaga fired high over the bar, as Liverpool prevailed 11-10 in a shoot-out of the highest quality.

The 23-year-old Corkman's nerveless spot-kick strike handed Klopp his first domestic cup trophy as Liverpool boss, leaving the German heaping the praise on the Cork native.

Klopp insisted that regular keeper Alisson Becker is the world's best goalkeeper, before hailing Kelleher as the globe's top back-up option.

"Alisson Becker is the best goalie in the world for me," said Klopp.

"There are other good goalkeepers out there but this goalie is absolutely insane.

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"But to be honest for me Caoimhin Kelleher is the best number-two goalie in the world as well.

"The game he played was absolutely incredible.

"I can remember at least two incredible saves, and probably there were more.

"So he proved that the decision to line him up was absolutely right.

"And then in a very spectacular penalty shoot-out he showed the whole range of his skill set.

"He finished one off with his really skilled feet. So top class.

"They call it the people's cup, but the whole journey was a squad journey, and that's what I love most about it."

While Kelleher made two penalty saves against Leicester in the quarter-final win he was barely given a chance at Wembley, such was the quality from the spot from both sides.

And that was a frustration for the Irishman.

"Someone said to me afterwards, 'You scored the winning penalty' but I wasn't really bothered about that," he told liverpoolfc.com.

"I was more bothered that I wanted to make a save but thank God anyway I scored and we got the win.

"I was dreaming good things (the night before), that we would win, but never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I'd score a penalty at the Liverpool end, the winning penalty. That's just next level."

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