Caoimhín Kelleher celebrates with his Liverpool team-mates at Anfield (PA)
Caoimhín Kelleher celebrates with his Liverpool team-mates at Anfield (PA)
Kevin Palmer
Today at 23:36
Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher enjoyed another night to remember at Anfield as his penalty save from Kylian Mbappe helped rampant Liverpool to a 2-0 win against Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Liverpool ended a 15-year wait for a win over Real Madrid as goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo put them on the brink of guaranteeing a place in the last 16 with a fifth successive win.
"I was confident and thankfully went the right way again,” said Kelleher, speaking to TNT Sports after the win.
"It is a big result. It is a massive result for us. We wanted to come out tonight and put on a performance and well done to the lads for doing that."
The Cork-born stopper also looked ahead to the massive game against Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday as he added: "I think confidence is high in the whole squad.
"Man City, we know they have had a tough few results but what a team. We expect a really tough test but this is good confidence for the team and we will go again."
Liverpool manager Arne Slot saluted his biggest win yet as Liverpool manager, as he reflected on a stunning start to life as Jurgen Klopp’s successor at Anfield.
"You know how special it is to play against a team that has won the Champions League so many times,” said the Dutchman.
"They were a pain in the ass for Liverpool for many years too. It is a big week and it is pleasing to see.
"I didn't have a schedule in terms of amount of points I wanted. You want to implement the playing style as soon as possible. That is not difficult because it wasn't that different to Jurgen's.
" It is great to see not only the starters but the players coming on are doing as we expect. If before the season I had counted points for this point in the season I wouldn't have done as much as we have now.
"Every time Real Madrid threatened us was from us. I think we can play with more intensity and better with the ball."