1 week Ago By Andrew Ryan
CAOIMHIN KELLEHER is Liverpool's answer to James Bond - and Arne Slot would be wise not to Vanquish him when Alisson returns. That is the view of ex-Reds striker John Aldridge, who believes the Ireland international cannot be made invisible when the Brazilian is back from injury. 4 Aldridge compared Kelleher to James Bond Credit: Getty Images - Getty Kelleher, 25, has started eight of Liverpool 's last nine games in all competitions as Alisson has been recuperating from a hamstring injury.
That run is likely to come to an end soon, with the Brazilian goalkeeper nearing a return by the end of this month. However, former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland striker Aldridge believes it would be unfair to take Kelleher out of the team. He told Netbet Online Casino : "It's not the first time.
"People tend to forget he has done this time and time again over the last few years and he has never let the side down. "He has been absolutely quality. I can't speak highly enough of him.
"He has been impeccable. He should have been in the Irish team a long time ago. "When he was young in gaelic football or whatever, you can see he is good on the ball and that is what you have got to be in present day football goalkeeping.
"He is cool, calm, and collected, a bit like James Bond , to be fair, when he is on the ball. "I just think at this present moment in time what he has done, it is hard but he has got to keep his place ahead of Alisson for me. "Alisson is right up there with the best goalkeepers in the world and in some quarters the best goalkeeper in the world but I think this is a time when the manager has got to be honest and say, 'look, I can't fault you.
' " While Aldridge feels Kelleher SHOULD keep his place, whether or not he WILL is a different matter entirely. However, the 66-year-old went so far as to suggest Arne Slot will keep faith in the former Ringmahon Rangers starlet. He added: "I have got a funny feeling he will, you know? "I go back to when I used to go to LiverPool in the 60s and 70s.
I watched Ray Clement in this team where he didn't have a save to make and then, all of a sudden, in the 89th minute he'd have to pull something off and he would. "Concentration levels have to be so good. I just think the manager will realise that and he has got to be true tpo himsel;f.
"It is a big call and, to be quite honest, Aisson being the pro that he is, I think he would expect it. "I think he would kind of think, 'I can't go straight back in the way he has been playing. He has been immaculate.
'" Kelleher's very future at Anfield remains up in the air. Back in September, the Corkman revealed he wanted to leave Liverpool last summer in pursuit of regular first team football. His fate was further complicated by the club signing Giorgi Mamardashvili , with the Georgia goalkeeper joining next summer.
And while Aldridge does not want the Irishman to leave, he suggested a move to a top club abroad would be the best case scenario. He said: "There must be a plan for down the line., Especially with the way Liverpool are with the three under contract.
"There is some sort of plan, there must be. "I don't want to see him go anywhere but you have to be fair. "If he is not going to be number one, which he has proved the last month that he is a number one and he has proved before when Alisson has been out of the team, then you have to let him go for his own sanity, if anything.
"He is relatively young for a keeper. He has done a long and arduous apprenticeship and it has been a good apprenticeship but now is the time that he has to play week-in, week-out. He is that good.
"A top club should take him. "Ideally you don't want to sell him. If he does go then a top team in Spain , a top team in Italy .
"That type of thing would be the one that is ideal because you don't want him to come back and haunt you. "You never know, he might become Liverpool's number one. Stranger things have happened.
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