Manager delivers EMPHATIC statement on Caoimhin Kelleher’s future

Everyone knew that Liverpool’s goalkeeper situation was going to be an awkward one this season.

It is now beyond question that Liverpool have two Premier League starting-quality goalkeepers on their books, and will have three when Giorgi Mamardashvili arrives from Valencia in the summer.

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Caoimhin Kelleher proved this with a 10-game run of outstanding performances over the past two months, filling in for the injured Alisson.

But, in his return to the team, the Brazilian number one doesn’t look like he has missed a step at all.

It’s unfortunate for Kelleher, who would arguably start at any other team in the entire league.

An additional factor is how not playing will affect his chances for his national team, the Republic of Ireland. On that, Irish manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has been alarmingly clear.

“We would like our players to play,” he stone-facedly replied when asked about a series of Irish players that are struggling for game-time at the moment, according to The Mirror.

“I will answer this question the same way whoever it is. As a national team coach, you would always like to see your players playing,” Hallgrimsson continued, “Whether it’s Evan [Ferguson] or someone else. It’s our preference. We would like our players to play.

“The same with Caoimhin [Kelleher], we don’t know if he’s going to play games for Liverpool even though he’s done brilliantly.

“Should he go and try to play somewhere else? It applies to everyone. For a national team coach, of course you would like your players to be playing all the time.”

Manager's comments confirm Kelleher's Liverpool departure

Kelleher has been outspoken about his desire to be a starting goalkeeper.

He has, reportedly, already decided to request to leave Liverpool if he is not guaranteed playing time, and any prospect of it affecting his international chances would be a nail in the coffin for him to try and stay to win the starting job.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has been uncharacteristically cold about this situation, constantly reiterating that Alisson is the starting goalkeeper when he is fit, regardless of the performances that Kelleher puts in.

Liverpool reportedly rejected an offer from Nottingham Forest for Kelleher’s services this past summer. With his displays in net for both Liverpool and the Republic of Ireland recently, the Reds may be able to recoup a fee of triple - perhaps even quadruple - any previous offers.

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