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Caoimhin Kelleher's stock continued to rise as he made his third penalty save in two weeks - this time to deny Kylian Mbappe - as Liverpool beat Real Madrid 2-0.
The 26-year-old, who has deputised more than ably for Alisson since mid-October, got down low to his left to keep out Mbappe's effort and secure another clean sheet.
He has yet to concede in three Champions League games this season - saving all 13 shots on target he has faced.
"I was confident and thankfully went the right way again," Kelleher told TNT Sport modestly.
BBC pundit Chris Sutton said: "You look at the goalkeeping position - Caoimhin Kelleher has always been outstanding, he's got a brilliant temperament. In many respects it was not a great surprise to see him save a penalty."
Earlier in November he kept out an effort from Finland's Joel Pohjanpalo in a 1-0 win for the Republic of Ireland - and also saved a spot-kick from Southampton's Adam Armstrong in Liverpool's 3-2 win on Sunday, albeit the rebound was converted.
And yet once Alisson is back from his hamstring injury, Kelleher will be back to warming the bench.
Alisson, considered the world's best goalkeeper by many, suffered a hamstring injury during Liverpool's win over Crystal Palace on 5 October and has not played since.
The 32-year-old has played 271 times since a £66.8m move from Roma in 2018 - and has won the Champions League and Premier League.
The Brazilian had been expected to have recovered by now but appears to only be back doing individual and not team training.
So Kelleher is likely to play again on Sunday against title rivals Manchester City.
But Liverpool boss Arne Slot has already made clear that "the moment Alisson will be fit he will be our first goalkeeper".
Speaking after the Real Madrid game, Slot said: "Kelleher was outstanding. He has done remarkable for us," before adding, "just like our other goalkeeper who has been remarkable too."
Kelleher has kept five clean sheets in 10 games for Liverpool this season - only conceding seven goals.
Former England defender Gary Cahill, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, said: "The old saying is 'when you have a chance you have to take it' and Caoimhin Kelleher has certainly done that.
"Liverpool have a world-class keeper in Alisson who will probably come back in, but it is a good headache for the manager to have."
Where Kelleher's future lies remains unclear.
Alisson is 32 and seems to suffer from an unusual amount of injuries for a goalkeeper.
Kelleher has patiently waited for years for his chance at Anfield - but in the summer Liverpool announced a deal to sign Valencia and Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, now 24, in a deal worth up to £29m at the end of the season.
Having been a target for Nottingham Forest earlier this year, Kelleher indicated in September that he would have to leave in search of first-team football.
"I've made it clear in the last few years that I want to go and be a number one and play week in, week out," he said.
"The club's made that decision to get another goalkeeper and from the outside looking in, it looks like they've made a decision to go in a different direction."
With Kelleher hugely popular with the Anfield faithful, there are some who think selling Alisson might be an option.
But there is no indication from Liverpool that is on the agenda.
Kelleher's record when facing penalties is quite remarkable.
In regular play he has saved four of the six spot-kicks he has faced for club and country.
And he holds the Liverpool club record for penalty shootout saves as well - stopping six kicks in four Carabao Cup ties.
On top of that, he has scored one - Liverpool's 11th kick in the 2022 EFL Cup final win over Chelsea.
After the Republic of Ireland's Nations League win over Finland, former striker Kevin Doyle told RTE: "I think in five or six years he is going to be in the top one or two goalkeepers in the world.
"He's that good at everything he does. He has got everything in the locker. He ticks every box. If he can get himself playing I feel he's going to be the top man."
For Opta's goals prevented metric, which is goals conceded against expected goals on target, Kelleher ranks third among Premier League goalkeepers since his debut, even above Alisson.
He has not made any errors leading to goals - and he also ranks high up on saves and successful passes.
One of Kelleher's predecessors at international level, Shay Given, told BBC Radio 5 Live last month: "He isn't getting any younger. Each game that goes by where he doesn't play, he will never get back.
"He has only got one career, one life and one opportunity at being a top goalkeeper."
Kelleher, who never had any loan spells, has only played 57 games of club football - all for Liverpool - at the age of 26.
He is older than incoming Reds keeper Mamardashvili, who has played 179 club matches, and Italy's Gianluigi Donnarumma - who has played 402 times for AC Milan and Paris St-Germain.
His main rival for the Republic of Ireland number one jersey is 22-year-old Gavin Bazunu, who has played 162 times for four different clubs, including current side Southampton.
