'Octopus' Caoimhín Kelleher determined to claim No.1 for Liverpool and Ireland

On media duties on Monday, the main thrust of the interrogation Kelleher faced was his decision to stay put at Liverpool as understudy to Alisson

SAFE HANDS: Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher is put through his paces during Monday’s training session in Abbotstown. ‘You always have to progress. So the next step for me was to be No.2 (at Liverpool), and I’ve taken that next step so I’m happy.’ Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Nicknamed the Octopus by his Liverpool teammate James Milner, Caoimhín Kelleher will be happy to get his hands on the Ireland’s No 1 jersey for 90 minutes on Tuesday night.

Ordinarily, the first Reds player since Robbie Keane 2009 to represent Ireland would be considered a certain regular, particularly one with Champions League experience, but he’s in the extraordinary situation of having two rivals with similar claims.