InterviewCaoimhin Kelleher's Plymouth preview: 'Our mentality is to win every game'
Caoimhin Kelleher insists Liverpool will take nothing for granted and continue their ‘win every game’ mentality at Plymouth Argyle in the Emirates FA Cup.
The Reds have already secured one trip to Wembley for this season after a 4-0 Anfield victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday night set up a Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United next month.
A quick turnaround sees Arne Slot’s side flip attentions to the FA Cup and a fourth-round trip to Home Park to meet Championship side Plymouth.
Kelleher made his 16th start of 2024-25 as Spurs were vanquished and, previewing Sunday’s next outing, the goalkeeper opened up on the hunger shared throughout the Liverpool squad for more.
“In the last few seasons we have obviously got to some finals. I think it’s just the mentality in the whole group is always spot on,” he told Liverpoolfc.com.
“We want to win every game we’re involved in, and I think that’s kind of the mentality – game by game. Obviously we’re a difficult team to beat in cup competitions. We want to win every competition we’re in. It’s that mentality to go out and win every game.
“We’re happy with the League Cup now we’re in the final. That’s a few weeks away now so that’ll be on the backburner. Focus will go towards the cup and the league as well.
“We have important games in both, all focus will be on that, we won’t take anything for granted and we want [the chance] to get more trophies than just the League Cup.”
Plymouth currently prop up England’s second tier but come in to the clash with the Reds having inflicted only a sixth league defeat of the season on play-off-chasing West Bromwich Albion last time out.
Miron Muslic’s team already have a Premier League scalp in the FA Cup, too, having won 1-0 away at Brentford in round three.
“I think obviously it’s going to be difficult,” said Kelleher. “It’s obviously a massive game for them, us coming there is going to be huge. They’re going to be ready.
“The fans are going to be ready for us. It’s going to be a tough game. We want to go there and get a win, and we need to be ready for a tough game as well.
“Maybe they’re not having the best season but that kind of goes out of the window in a cup tie. They might see it as a chance to ignite their season and get something going, especially with us coming into town.
“It’s going to be a massive day for them. We know they’ll be well up for it.”
Slot shuffled his squad when the Reds eased past Accrington Stanley 4-0 at Anfield in the previous round last month.
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Watch on YouTubeThe head coach has publicly stressed the importance of every member of his squad making contributions as Liverpool continue to compete on four fronts, including setting the pace in the Premier League.
And Kelleher revealed the message is one repeatedly being shared internally too.
“I think definitely the manager alludes to that a lot in his meetings with us,” said the No.62. “It’s a squad that everyone needs to be ready to step in and everyone needs to play their part.
“He shows us all the time that there’s times in the season when you have injuries and in certain situations like that, squad players need to come in and do their bit as well.
“We train how we play, we’re always on it every day. That breeds good intensity into the squad, and everyone is ready to step up if needed.”