Caoimhin Kelleher: Liverpool Star Leads Best Second-Choice Goalkeepers After Mbappe Stop

• Caoimhin Kelleher had another decent game for Liverpool, thwarting Kylian Mbappe's penalty in the Champions League
• Kelleher has been Liverpool's second-choice goalkeeper, only playing when Alisson Becker is unavailable
• He leads our list of the second-choice goalkeepers who are just too good to sit on the bench and play second-fiddle

Caoimhin Kelleher has been clear as anyone can be - he wants to become a number one goalkeeper.

The only problem goalkeepers like Kelleher face is that there is a better option than them in the teams they play for.

The Irish shot-stopper pulled off another masterclass display for Liverpool when record European champions Real Madrid came visiting at Anfield on November 27.

He stopped Kylian Mbappe's penalty and made a series of other point-blank stops to help Arne Slot's side maintain their 100% record in Europe this season. It is not the first time the 26-year-old has come grand for the Reds. Last season's Carabao Cup final quickly comes to mind.

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Unfortunately for Kelleher, he will have to go back to the bench when number one choice, Alisson, shakes off his hamstring injury.

Best second-choice goalkeepers

Kelleher leads Briefly News'' best second-choice goalkeepers. But who else made the list?

1. Stefan Ortega - Manchester City

Manchester City are currently stuck in an uncharacteristic poor run of form, which makes it easy for people to forget how good Stefan Ortega has been in recent seasons.

Ederson is Pep Guardiola's first choice, but Ortega has been called on one too many times, and he has repaid the manager's faith.

Of all the saves the German has made in his career, none will ever be as huge and consequential as the stop he made against Heung-min Son in the Premier League run-in last season.

"Stefan Ortega has saved us. Otherwise, Arsenal are Premier League Champions," said Guardiola, as quoted by the Guardian.

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2. Andriy Lunin - Real Madrid

Lunin was Real Madrid's go-to goalkeeper last season, but only because Thibaut Courtois was injured.

Despite his heroic saves along the way, he was still binned for the Champions League final when Courtois returned. You really can't blame Carlo Ancelotti - Courtois is easily one of the best goalkeepers in modern football.

Lunin finished third in the 2024 Yashin Trophy Award behind Emi Martinez and Unai Simon.

3. Inaki Pena - Barcelona

The Blaugrana hierarchy has made it clear that they do not intend to replace Marc Andre Ter Stegen soon.

The German suffered a season-ending injury, forcing the club to convince Wojciech Szczęsny to come out of retirement for one season.

However, and this is where it gets interesting, Inaki Pena has stepped up and filled the void left by Ter Stegen. Many expected him to struggle, and that's why Barcelona sought cover with the Szczęsny signing, but so far, Pena is keeping the Pole out of Hansi Flick's starting XI.

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Real Madrid boss backs Mbappe to shine

Previously, Briefly News reported that Mbappe had received backing from Carlo Ancelotti.

The Madrid boss, renowned for nurturing world-class talent, strongly believes in his latest 'Galactico,' asserting that Mbappe is set to captivate the Bernabeu faithful with a stellar performance.

Source: TUKO.co.ke