The young goalkeeper has been speaking about a week to remember after making his Champions League and Premier League debuts
Caoimhin Kelleher has reflected on his memorable week as a Liverpool goalkeeper, revealing a message of pride from Alisson Becker in the process.
Kelleher was a surprise inclusion last Tuesday in the 1-0 win against Ajax when he was named ahead of Adrian following a hamstring injury to Alisson.
The young Irishman was preferred to his more experienced team-mate and turned in an assured display as the Reds booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Kelleher was again calm and composed as Liverpool beat Wolves 4-0 at Anfield on Sunday for what was the shot-stopper's Premier League debut.
And the Academy graduate revealed how his more established colleague, Alisson, reached out for a congratulatory message after a few days to remember for the former Ringmahon Rangers keeper.
"It’s been a decent week! What can I say?" Kelleher said. "Two debuts in one week, it’s been a bit of a mad one.
"I've just been trying to take my opportunities when I’ve had them. I’ve had two games, and felt I did well in them. That’s all I can do.
"Definitely on the weekend, I felt more comfortable after playing in midweek. The more games you play, the more comfortable you feel.
"My phone was buzzing for about three days afterwards, just from friends, family, former coaches, everyone really.
"Alisson texted me as well just to say well done, and that he was proud of me.
"The messages were all nice and supportive, so it was good to get them."
Asked how it felt taking his place in goal in front of fans for the first time in nine months on Sunday, the Ireland under-21 international added: "It was a class feeling to be fair, having fans there singing. Hearing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ was some feeling, to be honest. It was class.
"I've been focusing on training harder and trying to get better, and if an opportunity did come then I tried to be ready.
"I wouldn’t say I was definitely thinking I was going to be playing, it was about preparing myself to be ready."
Kellher was in goal for Liverpool 's Carabao Cup campaign last season where they beat Arsenal on penalties after a 5-5 draw before a youth team were knocked out by a 5-0 loss at Villa Park.
The 22-year-old, who is expected to start Wednesday's game with Midtjylland, said neither game entered his thought process when he was handed his first starts in the Champions League and Premier League last week though.
"I wouldn't say I was disappointed, but obviously I felt I could have done better," he said.
"They were difficult games, we had a lot of younger players against tough opposition which made it more difficult.
"I wasn't too hard on myself, I didn’t spend too much time thinking of those games."