Liverpool have one of the most enviable squads in world football and they are also extremely well-stocked in the goalkeeping department. With Lorius Karius returning from his loan spell in Turkey, and Trabzonspor’s Ugurcan Cakir also being linked with a move to Anfield, Jurgen Klopp has plenty of options between the sticks. The Reds can also call upon 21-year old Caoimhin Kelleher, and the Cork-born stopper has looked extremely impressive when given the opportunity in cup competitions.
Other Premier League clubs have sent their back-up goalkeepers out on loan in recent seasons, with Dean Henderson, Christian Walton and Daniel Iverson all undoubtedly benefiting from getting some first-team action under their belts, and Kelleher may need to follow suit.
As outlined by thisisanfield.com, the Irishman is one of a handful of youngsters who was encouraged to remain at the club last season, as opposed to departing on a temporary basis. However, with the surfeit of stoppers at Melwood, this summer may prove to be the perfect opportunity for Kelleher to continue his development further down the pyramid.
Alisson is the undisputed number one at Anfield and has won legions of admirers since moving to Merseyside. Here at liverpoolcore.com, we reported that club legend Bruce Grobbelaar believes that the Brazilian can establish himself as a club great by committing his long-term future to the Merseyside outfit, and his consistent performances throughout the 2018-19 campaign also saw the former Roma man awarded goalkeeper of the season by UEFA.
Kelleher also finds himself behind Adrian in the pecking order, and although the former West Ham stopper remains popular with fans, the Spaniard isn’t getting any younger. Andy Lonergan’s current deal may also be extended, leaving the former Ringmahon Rangers man with very little hope of making his first Premier League start anytime soon. The Republic of Ireland Under-21 International has featured in the FA Cup, and also caught the eye against Arsenal in an EFL Cup thriller back in October 2019. Kelleher played a key role in his side’s penalty shootout victory against the Gunners, saving Dani Ceballos’ spot-kick to in front of the Kop.
Jurgen Klopp has the tendency to give the younger members of his squad the chance to shine in cup competitions, and Kelleher has been a recent beneficiary of that approach. Although these sweeping changes have helped many of the fringe players to showcase their talent, this system hasn’t always made it straightforward for the Reds in recent seasons. The most notable example of this was in January 2019 when the Premier League side blew a two-goal lead against League One Shrewsbury in the final 25 minutes. Unsurprisingly, they were the heavy favourites going into the match and it was seen as all but certain for them to win the game with the lead they had, so cash-out was seen as a pointless option by most, even though it is offered by the majority of the best UK betting sites, sbo.net. The Irishman was left on the bench for that game and that might have helped his reputation because he was given the nod in the replay and was able to celebrate keeping a clean sheet.
He has also shown an ability to remain calm under pressure, and looks completely comfortable with the ball at his feet. He made an assured debut against MK Dons at the end of September, and oozed confident throughout the 90 minutes. He has great athleticism, and despite not featuring in the competition, he already has a Champions League medal to his name.
“It was unbelievable. It’s once in a lifetime. I’ve never experienced that. It’s probably the best feeling I’ve ever had.” Caoimhin Kelleher has been reflecting on becoming a @ChampionsLeague winner with @LFC #uclfinal @OFlynnPaul pic.twitter.com/yPnvb3Q6c3
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 2, 2019
Preston were reportedly interested in his services last season, whilst Sheffield Wednesday have also been linked with the young stopper. The Championship looks likely to be his preferred destination, and with little chance of usurping Alisson or Adrian in the next twelve months, dropping down to the second tier could be the best option. His former coach Neil Critchley is now managing at League One level, and therefore a potential move to Blackpool could also be on the cards.
Caoimhim Kelleher has an extremely bright future in the game, however, he may have to play the role of understudy for many years to come. Despite this, Liverpool are keen to retain his services, and a temporary switch to the second tier may be the only sure-fire way to get some much-needed first-team experience.
