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Kelleher concern quashed

The emphatic nature of the final scoreline didn’t quite portray the threat Sparta Prague, buoyed by a vociferous home crowd, regularly posed the Liverpool defence.

And chief reason for that was another stellar display by Caoimhin Kelleher. A seventh consecutive start, Kelleher is this season already close to matching the number of Reds appearances of his previous four campaigns combined. And, as with outfield players, he is benefiting from the rhythm of consistent games.

Kelleher was certainly required early on when making a smart stop from the strangely unmarked Lukas Haraslin that allowed Joe Gomez to race back and clear off the goalline, the relieved goalkeeper then pouncing on the loose ball.

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There was less Sparta threat once Liverpool adjusted defensively in the second half, with Kelleher’s positioning and ability on the ball making light of any potentially tricky situations.

Indeed, it says much that when Sparta did finally find a way past the Irishman, it was when a low cross was belted into his own goal by Conor Bradley, the right-back’s first touch having replaced Gomez at half-time.

Small wonder hearts were in mouths when Kelleher briefly stayed down midway through the first half when landing awkwardly after making a high claim. After long being regarded by Jurgen Klopp as the best number two goalkeeper in the world, Kelleher is now proving he is more than just an able deputy.

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