Kostas Tsimikas believes Caoimhin Kelleher ‘deserves’ his Liverpool spotlight.
The Republic of Ireland is set to start Sunday’s Premier League encounter against Fulham after Alisson was sidelined for several weeks through injury.
Kelleher has featured 27 times for Jurgen Klopp’s side since stepping up as the Brazilian’s understudy and boasts an impressive 74% win percentage.
And Tsimikas, himself deputising for Andy Robertson, has hailed the 25-year-old’s time to shine as just reward for his consistent output as a Reds’ player.
He said: “We have a big respect for Caoimh. He is a big goalkeeper.
“Every day in training he is a hard worker. Many times he’s played for the team and given absolutely everything.
“He deserves to play now because Ali is injured. For me personally, I feel very safe when he’s the goalie. I am really happy for him.
“To be at Liverpool it means he is a very good goalkeeper. That is why he is here.
“He doesn’t smile too much but with me we have a great relationship. Always we chat together in the training ground and try to make fun.”
Tsimikas is enjoying his longest run in Liverpool’s first team since Robertson suffered a shoulder injury on international duty with Scotland in mid-October.
But the full-back, who scored the winning penalty in the 2022 FA Cup final, insists he is not focusing on the potential for an extended spell in the line-up.
“I always feel I can play,” added Tsimikas.
“I’m not thinking when he is coming back, who is going to play. I just take this game by game, always try to give my best to help my team get three points.
“For me, that’s the most important thing. I hope all the best for him to come back as strong as before. We will see, no-one knows [what will happen].
“I just always try to be focused to try to do my job as best as I can.”