Will Klopp keep with Kelleher or will Alisson return as Liverpool's No. 1?
The Liverpool manager faces a dilemma once
Alisson Becker is expected to return to the Liverpool first-team in mid-April. The Brazilian is currently nursing a hamstring injury and has missed Liverpool’s last eight games in all competitions due to the issue.
In Alisson’s absence, back-up goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has excelled in goal. The Irish goalkeeper has not lost a match since taking over for Alisson, keeping three clean sheets, and helping the Reds win the Carabao Cup final.
Kelleher’s form leaves manager Jurgen Klopp with a difficult decision to make. Does he keep with Kelleher or does Alisson return as Liverpool’s No. 1?
It is a difficult decision, although plenty of supporters will want Alisson thrown right back into the starting role, especially with Liverpool chasing the Premier League title.
In a recent YouTube video, former Manchester United player, Rio Ferdinand, claimed Kelleher has had only “three or four good games”. Ferdinand’s comment misses the mark completely.
Kelleher had played well in limited match time before Alisson’s hamstring injury. Prior to taking over the No. 1 role, Kelleher had played in 13 matches, featuring mostly in the Europa League and Carabao Cup tournaments. The Irishman has now made 21 appearances, seven of which in the Premier League.
Kelleher has conceded 21 goals in all competitions, averaging a goal conceded per game. While he has only kept five clean sheets in all competitions, Kelleher has made some big-time saves. Just go back to the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea to see Kelleher’s brilliant glove work.
In comparison, Alisson has made 24 appearances this season, keeping nine clean sheets and conceding 21 times. The two goalkeepers have similar numbers, yet the skill set the two bring to the team is slightly different.
Kelleher doesn’t possess the same distribution Alisson does, although he has done well getting the ball forward to Liverpool’s attacking players.
There was a belief that Liverpool would sell Kelleher last summer. Yet, no serious bids were lodged. In January, several sports news sites claimed Liverpool were approached by Celtic and three Premier League teams over Kelleher’s availability. The Reds had no interest in moving on the Irishman, and it has paid off keeping him in reserve.
Kelleher’s form doesn’t just raise the question over him starting ahead of Alisson once the Brazilian returns. It raises questions over Kelleher being Liverpool’s starting goalkeeper once a new manager arrives on Merseyside for next season. Would Liverpool sell Alisson in the offseason?
The Brazilian’s contract runs until 2027. He earns £7.8 million a season. With Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Trent Alexander-Arnold all in need of a new contract, would Alisson be sacrificed?