Dec 04,2024
Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher looks set to continue between the sticks for the Reds after manager Arne Slot confirmed that Alisson Becker is not expected to return until late December.
Kelleher is enjoying his longest run in the Reds first team as he deputises for Alisson, who continues to recover from a hamstring injury.
During that time the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper has been one of the stand-out performers for his club, keeping clean sheets in wins over Real Madrid and Manchester City as Liverpool top both the Premier League and Champions League tables.
Slot has made no secret of the fact that Alisson will return as first-choice goalkeeper once he is fully fit again, but admitted that Kelleher's form means that he can wait longer for the Brazilian to return to full fitness.
"I think I have been clear a few weeks ago about what my position is about our goalkeepers," Slot said when asked about Alisson's return.
"But we are just waiting for the moment that Alisson is completely fit because Caoimhín is doing too well to put Alisson in goal if he is only on 50% [fitness] and that would not be good for Alisson and not be good for the team.
"He's getting there. It might take a few more extra days but he’s getting closer and closer and like I’ve always said the end phase of rehab is always the period where you feel like, 'OK, is he really there or does he need a few extra days?’
"But he will be in goal before the end of December if things continue like they are."
Kelleher looks certain to start for Liverpool in their next two Premier League games against Newcastle and Everton and is likely to feature in their Champions League clash against Girona.
Elsewhere Slot laughed off Mohamed Salah's suggestions he could have played his last Anfield match against Manchester City by joking his leading scorer was expecting them to be relegated as a result of the 115 Premier League charges they are facing.
Salah, who is out of contract at the end of the season, said after scoring in Sunday's 2-0 win over Pep Guardiola's side: "Honestly it's in my head. Until now this is the last City game I will play for Liverpool (at home) so I was just going to enjoy it."
It is a theme he has mentioned before as time ticks down on the remainder of his deal with no hint of a successful resolution in sight.
Slot has become an expert in side-stepping all questions on the expiring contracts of Salah, captain Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold and on this occasion chose to make a joke out of it.
"Maybe Mo knows more about the 115 accusations that are done so he expects them not to be in the Premier League next season," he said.
"I do expect them to be in the Premier League.
"The boring answer is always the same. This is not the place for me to talk about Mo's contract.
"Maybe I've said already too much about the joke I've just made. So that will probably get the headlines. But it was a joke, I repeat, it was a joke."
The outcome of a hearing into the charges of breaching financial regulations - which City strenuously deny - is expected in the new year.
