Oct 10,2024
Caoimhín Kelleher is poised for a busy period between the sticks, with confirmation that Alisson Becker will be absent from Liverpool's ranks for approximately six weeks.
The 32-year-old suffered a hamstring injury during last weekend's 1-0 Premier League victory over Crystal Palace and went off the field with 11 minutes remaining.
Former St Patrick's Athletic loanee Vitezslav Jaros entered the fray as Kelleher was unavailable due to a minor illness.
Tests have shown Alisson is not likely to be fit to play until after next month's international break.
That would mean the first Premier League match he could potentially be available for would be the trip to Southampton on 24 November.
Kelleher, who has deputised for Alisson twice during this campaign and for a two-month spell last season when the the Brazil netminder was sidelined by another hamstring injury, can expect starts against Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton, Aston Villa, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen once he returns from the Republic of Ireland's Nations League encounters against Finland and Greece.
The Cork goalkeeper, who was dubbed "the best number two goalkeeper in the world" by former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has expressed his desire to become the Liverpool number one on a permanent basis.
However, the club's £30m summer deal to take Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia next season makes that prospect look unlikely.
Kelleher could have been a Premier League regular elsewhere this season, but Nottingham Forest saw two offers for the 25-year-old rejected by the Reds.
