Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson says Caoimhín Kelleher deserves Carabao Cup final start

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson believes goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher has fully justified his place in the Carabao Cup final team.

The Republic of Ireland international has played every tie this season bar one – when first-choice Alisson Becker was given a game after a Covid-enforced absence – and boss Jurgen Klopp took the unusual step of publicly naming the 23-year-old as a guaranteed starter a whole month before the trip to Wembley.

That has attracted criticism from some quarters who believe he should play his best goalkeeper but Kelleher has the full support of his manager and team-mates.

"I think he's been outstanding. All the games he has come in he's been outstanding in everything he has done," said Henderson.

"He’s a fantastic lad, very level-headed and as a keeper: shot-stopping is fantastic, distribution is amazing – and so calm as well.

"He’s learning from the best keeper in the world day in, day out, which will help him. He’s always had that calmness about him, even when he makes big saves he has that calming presence about him which I really like.

"It will be a big moment for him at the weekend but he has to just keep doing what he’s been doing because he’s been fantastic."

Assistant manager Pep Lijnders has a longer history with Kelleher than anyone in the first-team set-up and he also has no doubts about his qualities or temperament.

"I was the coach of the under-16s when we signed him so he came into my team. We saw from the start all the things that he shows now on a really high level, he had at that time," he said.

"I think Caoimhín is a really good example. Him reaching the final shows there is an inside path for all young goalkeepers inside our club. It’s a compliment for the goalkeeper department, of