Alisson Becker is back in training for Liverpool after recovering from a hamstring injury he sustained in October. Caoimhin Kelleher has been solid between the sticks in the Brazilian’s absence but he is now expected to return to the bench with the club’s number one fit to play again. However, the Irishman showed that he is good enough to be number one at any other club and it would be uncomfortable to see him warm the bench for the rest of the season given his quality.
Kelleher’s mistake, which led to Newcastle United’s late equaliser last week, showed why he never became the number one at Anfield, but that one error should not define his performances this season.
The Irishman has been brilliant in Alisson’s absence and it rekindled talk of him deserving a chance to move on from Liverpool and play as a number one goalkeeper at another club.
He will have a year left on his contract at Anfield next summer and is almost certain to leave with several clubs expected to try and sign him ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
However, his short-term future is still at Liverpool, but Alisson is almost certain to return to the team as he has recovered from a hamstring injury and is now fit to play.
Arne Slot might choose to keep Kelleher in goal against Girona today but Alisson is almost certain to return to the team at the weekend against Fulham.
The prospect of the Irishman spending most of the season on the bench would raise uncomfortable questions following his impressive performances in the last couple of months.
Kelleher wanted to leave last summer but Liverpool decided against selling him. The Irishman not getting games in the next few months would raise questions about the Reds potentially stalling his career.
Slot will have to find a way to get Kelleher some games in the latter half of the season to not only keep him happy but to also ensure that his transfer value doesn’t drop ahead of next summer when he is expected to be sold.
Former Premier League star insists Kelleher is one of the top three goalkeepers in the Premier League
Former Leeds and Tottenham shot-stopper Paul Robinson has insisted that the Liverpool number 2 is one of the best three goalkeepers in the Premier League this season.
He conceded that with Alisson back, Kelleher will have to go back to the bench and it’s unfortunate given his performances.
Can you name the team Liverpool sold these players to?
Robinson stressed that the Irishman would definitely move on from Anfield next season as he wouldn’t want to compete with Alisson and Giorgi Mamardashvili as he would want to be number one at a different club.
“I was asked to rank the top three goalkeepers in the Premier League this season, and Kellher was my number one”, he told Football Insider.
“It’s very hard to be a number two goalkeeper, the mentality is very different.
