Nov 29,2024
Caoimhín Kelleher further enhanced his burgeoning reputation as he played a starring role in Liverpool's 2-0 victory over Real Madrid on Wednesday night.
His penalty save from Kyllian Mbappe was the headline moment for the Cork goalkeeper but it was his all-round performance that really drew the eye.
With little to do in a first half, in which the Reds were dominant without scoring, Kelleher marshalled his defence well and showed the kind of confidence that breeds belief among his team-mates.
A busier second half saw him make some big saves from Jude Bellingham and Lucas Vazquez along with ensuring his side kept their noses in front with the game at 1-0, and Mbappe lining up a penalty.
It was the kind of no-nonsense performance that supporters have come to expect from Kelleher since he took over between the sticks from Alisson Becker at the start of October, but that time is drawing to an end.
Alisson watched on from the stands on Wednesday evening and despite the fine form of Kelleher in recent months, the Ireland international is set for a return to the bench as the Brazilian star nears full fitness.
Liverpool face their biggest game of the season this weekend as they take on a stuttering Manchester City at Anfield, with the chance to move 11 points clear of the champions and Alisson could return to the starting line-up.
Manager Arne Slot has made no secret of the pecking order in goal at Anfield, saying "the moment Alisson will be fit he will be our first goalkeeper".
So where does that leave Kelleher?
His recent run of games has illustrated that he’s too good a goalkeeper to continue as back-up and he’s now at the age where he needs to be a first-choice player.
Wednesday’s clash with Madrid was the 57th time he’s played a first-team game and at 26 years of age. That’s too low a number for a player of his calibre.
With only 21 Premier League starts to his name, Kelleher set his sights on a move away from Anfield last summer.
"I made it clear in the last few years that I want to go somewhere and be a number one," he said in September.
"Liverpool have rejected a few bids as well. It’s not always in my hands to fully make the decision. My ambition is clear. I’m good enough and I want to go and play week in, week out."
The club were open to selling Kelleher in the summer but their reported valuation of £25m was not met, with Nottingham Forest the only club to solidify their interest with a bid, but it was one Liverpool rejected out of hand.
Last summer’s transfer activity as Anfield further muddied the waters as Slot’s side paid £25m plus £4m in add-ons to sign Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
The Georgian international remains on loan with Valencia for the rest of the season but will move to Merseyside next summer and that’s when tough decisions will have to be made – three into two won’t go.
Mamardashvili has made clear his intention to fight for the number one shirt at Anfield with the accepted wisdom being that it will be Alisson he’s trying to dislodge.
However, the way in which Kelleher has taken his chance recently could be forcing a rethink at Anfield and there are a few factors that that play into his favour in long-terms comparisons with Alisson.
The Brazil goalkeeper, who is now 32, has missed an unusually high number of games through injury for a player in his position over the last three years.
Hamstring issues have been the main problem for Alisson, with his latest absence now his second lengthy spell on the sidelines due to that particular injury.
Alisson was out for two months last year with hamstring problems, missing 19 games across the season and has already been sidelined for ten so far this campaign, giving Kelleher an opportunity and raising questions about the Brazilian's long-term fitness.
With Alisson’s contract worth a reported £150,000 a week, that’s a lot of money to pay a goalkeeper whose injury issues are unlikely to abate as he gets older.
His current deal runs until 2027, when he will be 35 and unlikely to command any meaningful kind of transfer fee.
If Liverpool are ever going to be tempted to cash in on the Brazilian, now is the time.
Kelleher still has his best years ahead of him as a goalkeeper and has far fewer miles under the belt as a result of him being a back-up.
With no significant injuries over the last two years, he’s in better shape fitness wise than his team-mate and costing Liverpool a fraction of what they pay Alisson, as he’s on a reported £32,000 per week deal which expires in 2026.
While the Reds were ready to let Kelleher go last summer had the right offer come in, circumstances are changing and the choice between him and Alisson is no longer as clear cut as it was a few months ago.
Should Liverpool opt to stick with Alisson into next season, it’s likely that there will be plenty of competition for Kelleher’s signature.
Chelsea are the latest Premier League club to have been linked, with Wolves and Tottenham also reported to be keeping tabs on the Ireland international, but having performed on such a big European stage on Wednesday, a move to another Premier League club might no longer be the limit of his ambition.
