Klopp heaps praise on history-making Kelleher

Jurgen Klopp hailed the display of Caoimhin Kelleher as the Republic of Ireland's penalty saves helped the Reds to shoot-out victory 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 as the holders scraped past their League One opponents after a goalless draw.

Kelleher has now saved six penalties in shoot-outs, 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 shoot-outs 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.

"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.

Klopp meanwhile 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 per cent understand why we all [say]