Caoimhín Kelleher is off to Wembley again after reaching third Carabao Cup final with Liverpool

Caoimhin Kelleher is through to his third Carabao Cup final in four seasons following Liverpool’s 4-0 (4-1 aggregate) victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the competition’s semi-finals.

The Ringmahon Rangers academy graduate kept a clean sheet during the second leg at Anfield, which sets up a meeting with Newcastle United in the final on March 16 at Wembley.

PERFECT START

The result continues Arne Slott’s perfect start to life at Liverpool after taking over from Jurgen Klopp last summer.

The Reds are currently top of the Premier League and into one domestic cup final, while waiting for the Champions League Round of 16 after bypassing the play-offs over their performances in the competition through the autumn and winter.

Kelleher had very little to do during the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals against a Spurs side that went into the game leading 1-0 after a victory last January in London.

Liverpool turned things around with Cody Gakpo equalising on aggregate and Mohammad Salah made it 2-1 on aggregate from the spot midway through the first half. Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil Vam Dijk ensured their place in the final with goals into The Kop.

Kelleher’s run in the competition started in the third round with a 5-1 victory over West Ham at Anfield.

The goalkeeper missed the club’s next game in the tournament against Brighton & Hove Albion, but he returned for December’s meeting with Southampton at St Mary’s.

That was during a memorable period for Kelleher as he was designed as Liverpool’s number one as Allison was sidelined with an injury, and the Mahon native helped Slott’s side built a small cushion at the top of the Premier League by helping them defeat Aston Villa and Manchester City at Anfield.

Allison returned to the side in the middle of December which sparked speculation about the Kelleher’s future, with Chelsea and Newcastle interested in acquiring his services in January.

The goalkeeper turned away from the noise and helped kickstart Liverpool’s FA Cup campaign with a 4-0 hammering of Accrington Stanley at Anfield.

The Carabao Cup is special to the former Ringmahon Rangers player, as he featured on the side that ended Liverpool’s 10-year domestic trophy drought during the 2021-22 season. That kickstarted an unprecedented quadruple bid that fell apart at the final hurdles, with Jurgen Klopp’s side also lifting the FA Cup during the run-in.

Kelleher picked up his second winners medal in the Carabao Cup last year by helping Liverpool beat Chelsea at Wembley.

The goalkeeper had a clean sheet against a Blues’ side stacked with talent, and that was enough to force extra-time.

Player of the Match Van Dijk got the winner, with a stern header in front of the Liverpool fans.