1 week Ago By [email protected] (Amie Wilson, Kieran King, Isaac Seelochan, Isaac Johnson, Richard Garnett)
Arne Slot has a brutal decision to make after the international break, one that will reinforce his goalkeeper mindset. It is still unclear when precisely Alisson will return from his hamstring injury. Slot indicated that this would be after the international break but outlined: "It is always difficult to tell you exactly when they are ready.
Because, especially the last phase of the recovery, [it] can always be a few days extra or less." He has already stated that when Alisson is fit, he starts. But is that the right approach to adopt? Speaking after the win over Aston Villa, the Liverpool boss said: "Caoimhin has done outstanding last season and this season again as well.
But the moment Alisson will be fit he will be our first goalkeeper.'' Caoimhin Kelleher makes 'luck' claim as Liverpool star sends clear message to Arne Slot 'Worst on the field' - Liverpool star slammed as Alexis Mac Allister struggles in new role but Curtis Jones shines One of Slot’s defining traits so far has been his ability to elevate the levels of those around the central stars of the team. Curtis Jones, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch have all upped their output under the new head coach and are starting games.
Caoimhin Kelleher was always highly thought of by Liverpool supporters but he too has climbed another rung on the development ladder under Slot. The Irishman has once again produced eye-catching stops and has recorded clean sheets in half of his eight outings this term. His club form has transferred into his recent international game with the Republic Of Ireland, making several important stops before saving a penalty and the follow up as his country secured a 1-0 Nations League win over Finland on Thursday.
England are next. A good performance at Wembley will heighten the discourse around whether it is right that Kelleher is dropped when Alisson returns. Our writers discuss whether Alisson should actually wait his turn or is in fact too vital to leave out for Kelleher.
Isaac Johnson It would be incredibly tough on Kelleher to be dropped upon the return of Alisson, but he will be for two reasons. The first is that the 25-year-old seems likely to leave next year anyway and so best not ruffle any feathers with your first choice ‘keeper. But Slot also gave a window into his mindset earlier this month when discussing Kelleher’s increasing momentum.
"Alisson is, and will be, our first goalkeeper if he is fit," he said. The question, though, is whether this is the right mindset to have. After all, Alisson is now 32 and is clearly having problems with his hamstring.
Kelleher offers longevity. However, Alisson's presence and reliability in the team coupled with consistent his match-saving stops still ranks him as one of the best 'keepers on earth. And given Kelleher’s open admission about his failed intention to move on in the summer, I think Slot's mantra is probably sound.
Honesty is the best policy, anyway. Isaac Seelochan Liverpool are in an excellent position when it comes to the Premier League title race and they cannot afford to take any risks. Kelleher has done a fine job but Alisson is a much safer bet between the sticks.
The Reds need to play their best players when fit and it may be a brutal decision but there's no room for sentimentality here. It's likely to upset Kelleher and Liverpool may lose him off the back of this but they do have Giorgi Mamardashvili to come in after his loan spell at Valencia ends. To put it more bluntly, upsetting Kelleher would be a price worth paying for the Reds to have their best players on the pitch in a title race where every point counts.
Kieran King Liverpool are in a luxury position when it comes to goalkeepers. Alisson is arguably still the best goalkeeper in the Premier League when fit, while Kelleher is the best No.2 in the division, there is no doubt about that.
In fact, I think that Kelleher would be first-choice for at least 10 top-flight clubs - including Chelsea. It might be a bold shout but Kelleher should not be a second-choice 'keeper and deserves his chance to get regular first-team game time. However, I do think Kelleher needs to move on next summer and get that shot, with Alisson remaining as the No.
1 and Giorgi Mamardashvili coming in as back-up. With Alisson now 32, there is some uncertainty over how long he will be able to perform at the very top level but I feel that Liverpool should give him one more season as No.1 before starting to transition to Mamardashvili as he has the potential to be world-class for many years to come.
Amie Wilson There is no doubt that Kelleher is good enough to be first choice in the Premier League. But that is probably not with Liverpool, given Alisson’s place in the squad. While it seems extremely harsh on Kelleher to lose his place in the team once Alisson returns to fitness, I think that is what will, and probably should, happen.
Kelleher has spoken about his desire to be number one, but while Alisson is at Liverpool, he is always going to find himself as backup due to the influence the Brazilian has on the team. It means that the second choice is likely to move on this summer. Knowing that’s the case, it could upset the apple cart if he retains the number one shirt even when Alisson is fit.
While Alisson is 32, for a goalkeeper, it still means he still has years of playing ahead of him. He also still has two-and-a-half years remaining on his current Liverpool deal. Retaining Alisson as first choice, and letting Kelleher go is probably the most sensible thing to do this summer, with a younger number two coming in to provide cover and hopefully seamlessly take over when Alisson does move on.
Richard Garnett Liverpool have had a few decent goalkeepers over the years and plenty of duds, but I can't think of too many occasions where they have had two genuinely top glovesman at the same time. That is the situation the club have at present and whilst I can comfortably say that Alisson Becker is the single best goalkeeper I have seen play for the Reds during my 45 years on planet Earth, the form of back-up Caoimhin Kelleher cannot be ignored. The Irishman has had to be ultra-patient as a consequence of choosing to stick with a major club that has one of the world's best goalkeepers in its squad but right now we are seeing what he is capable of.
Should Kelleher continue in his current vein of form, Arne Slot will need to think carefully before he just throws regular starter Alisson back in-between the sticks. Should he do that, what message does it send to a high-performing player? 'It doesn't matter how you play, you're still out.' On the other hand, the pending arrival of Georgi Mamardashvilli from Valencia signals that at least one of Liverpool's current 'keepers is on his way out in the summer.
Most have assumed that to be Alisson with a move to Saudi Arabia on the cards. But can Slot really afford to lose two top goalkeepers in the same transfer window? Kelleher wants to be a No. 1 and if afforded the chance by Slot, he could yet achieve that at Anfield against all the odds.
Should the Irishman maintain his form, Alisson may have to wait for a few games at least before he can morally recover his place - if he can get it back at all. Even if he is the better overall goalkeeper, he has also been a regularly injured one..
