Jurgen Klopp hailed the display of Caoimhin Kelleher as the Republic of Ireland international's penalty saves helped the Reds to a shootout victory over Derby County in the Carabao Cup.
The Corkman, playing his first game since scoring the winning spot-kick against Chelsea at Wembley in February, saved three Derby penalties, including one from Ireland team-mate Conor Hourihane, as the holders scraped past their League One opponents after a goalless draw.
Kelleher has now saved six penalties in shootouts – the most in the club’s history – after surpassing Pepe Reina’s tally of five.
He has been involved in eight League Cup matches, four of which have gone to shootouts, and he has won all four.
"He still has a lot of goalkeeper years to come for him so if he can keep that record it would be exceptional and completely insane numbers. He did really well," Klopp said.
"We never hold him back or say, 'Caoimhin, you can’t play.' He’s exceptional, absolutely exceptional.
Three outstanding saves, Caoimhín 🧤 pic.twitter.com/6BUffWfZig
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 10, 2022
"He came back from holiday and was injured. It took a really long time to get him back in training and back to speed. But obviously he’s ready now."
Kelleher downplayed his exploits after the match, saying that for all their homework on Derby, luck still plays a vital part.
"Of course we had footage with John [Achterberg, first-team goalkeeping coach] Jack [Robinson, first-team assistant goalkeeping coach] and Tafa [Claudio Taffarel goalkeeping coach].
"On the day they can change their mind. They can do anything. Thankfully it worked out."
After denying Hourtihane and Craig Forsyth, the most eye-catching save was to thwart on-loan Everton striker Lewis Dobbin.
"I think that was the best one, at full stretch."
Meanwhile, Klopp reaffirmed his commitment to the club after it emerged the club's owners Fenway Sport Group are exploring options for investment which could lead to a sale.
A report on Monday suggested the American-based owners had produced a sales deck and investment banks Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley were assisting the evaluation process.
FSG admits it is open to accepting new shareholders but has not gone as far as to say the club as a whole is on the market, although it has not definitively ruled it out.
Speaking for the first time since the news became public Klopp said it made no difference to him.
"We knew about it a bit longer, their (FSG’s) thoughts, and I don’t 100% understand why we all [say] it gets sold," he said.
"What I read was they are looking for investors and that makes sense. A good idea, I like that. It didn’t distract the preparation at all.
"For me, it means nothing. Whatever happens, I really like how we work together with our owners but if that would change I’m committed to the club obviously.
"For me is it important while the process – whatever it is – is happening we keep going and keep planning. These type of things take time.
"I’m not an expert in this but whatever happens – and if someone comes in or whatever – until then a lot of things can happen and in that time we have to keep going.
"Not only football-wise, in between as well and I will make sure that will be the case. That is all.
"In the moment nothing happened, it is just news which we knew and no-one had a heart attack when we got the news and thought 'Oh my God, how can we carry on?'.
"It’s a decision and it’s fine. We work really close together with FSG, it was a great relationship until now and it will not change.
"Whatever happens we will see and we will deal with it."
