Caoimhin Kelleher smashes Liverpool record after penalty save denies Everton Lewis Dobbin loan and sees League 1 Derby

Caoimhin Kelleher spared Liverpool blushes as he saw them secure a penalty shoot-out win over League One Derby in the Carabao Cup.

The 23-year-old goalkeeper is quickly developing a reputation for his penalty kick exploits after saving three spot-kicks against the Rams to dispatch Liverpool after the two sides played out a 0-0 draw.

Typically, the decisive save came following a bad penalty from on-loan Everton striker Lewis Dobbin, which made it easier for the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper.

Harvey Elliott, introduced as a 65th-minute substitute along with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Darwin Nunez, scored the decisive spot-kick as the disappointing hosts won 3-2 in the shoot-out.

For Kelleher, it was also a landmark evening.

Despite making just 18 appearances for the club so far, the goalkeeper has now won more penalty kicks than any Liverpool keeper in the club’s 130-year history with four to his credit.

With the Reds now in the hat for the next round, Jurgen Klopp will no doubt breathe a sigh of relief.

Despite possessing 74 per cent possession and 19 shots, Liverpool struggled to get past Derby’s strong defense as the League One side posed more than enough test for the Premier League giants.

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But the most important thing is to be in the next round, especially on a night when Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and West Ham all knocked themselves out of the competition.

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