Kelleher caught the eye with a handful of good saves on his Champions League debut for Liverpool against Ajax
Jurgen Klopp says the 21-year-old goalkeeper was preferred to Adrian because of his ball-playing ability.
Kelleher was a surprise name in goal when team news dropped with many anticipating Adrian to stand in for an injured Alisson Becker .
Kelleher caught the eye with a handful of good saves as Curtis Jones scored the 1-0 winner that confirmed the Reds qualification to the knockout stages.
Reflecting on the goalkeeper's performance, Klopp said: “Top, top, top.
"It is a situation where I have to say it was easy to decide for Caoimh because he deserves it but difficult to decide against Adrian because he has done well for us.
"He did a really good job but tonight we needed the package of Caoimh and he is a top talent, really good shot-stopper and top footballer.
"We needed that for the pressing of Ajax. It was really good. In the end it is about keeping the ball out the net and he did that twice and he did that in an exceptional manner.
"He will either sleep really well tonight or nor at all."