You’ve just gone native, rooting for the Greeks over your own a 😆
I’ll just say it…
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You’ve just gone native, rooting for the Greeks over your own a 😆
View: https://x.com/TeleFootball/status/1858882773592707423
Caoimhin Kelleher is Liverpool’s answer to the Pogues’ perennial Christmas favourite Fairytale of New York; far too good never to be a No 1.
The Irish goalkeeper’s status as an ultra-reliable back-up has been reaffirmed during another impressive first-team run in Alisson Becker’s absence, regardless of his nation’s heavy beating at Wembley last Sunday.
Just before his return to Liverpool’s starting XI following Alisson’s latest hamstring injury, the question put to Kelleher was whether he anticipated getting useful advice from the senior keeper.
“I don’t think so. We are at that stage where he doesn’t need to say anything to me. I know what I need to do,” he said.
Momentarily, the 25-year-old looked like he may have had another, not so polite thought on his mind. Something along the lines of: “I’m not a kid anymore and don’t need anyone to hold my hand when I play for Liverpool.”
Kelleher’s subsequent performances for club and country have underlined such confidence. They have also shown – despite his wishes – that Liverpool were right to stand firm to prevent his departure last summer.
Although it was a source of frustration to Kelleher at the time, no Premier League club valued him more than his own. While Southampton were coughing up £25 million for Arsenal back-up Aaron Ramsdale, Liverpool were scratching their heads wondering why Premier League clubs struggled to believe Kelleher was worth even half that fee.
Liverpool would still have been reluctant sellers, given Alisson’s injury record. Kelleher featured in 26 games last season and has played 55 for the club in all. That is more than some of those who enjoyed a run as the club’s No 1 managed in their entire Liverpool career.
Only six Premier League keepers have kept more clean sheets than Kelleher this season. Not bad considering the Liverpool man has featured in just five league fixtures. He made crucial contributions in victories over Chelsea, Brighton, RB Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen and Aston Villa, when the games were in the balance.
Liverpool’s trust in their deputy cannot be overstated. In the years preceding Alisson’s arrival in the summer of 2018, Liverpool had struggled to decide on a first choice, let alone recruit two high-class keepers.
Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp may lament how much more they would have won had they possessed a keeper of Kelleher’s, not just Alisson’s class, in the respective title-chasing season of 2013-14, or 2018 Champions League final.
The club notoriously struggled with able back-ups, the alternatives ranging from the mediocre and the plain awful to the comically bad.
Loris Karius – the understudy to Simon Mignolet who was later promoted to first choice – still takes most criticism for his Champions League final woe against Real Madrid, but the German was comparable to Manuel Neuer when some of his predecessors are considered.
Bottom of the pile is the French keeper Charles Itandje, who turned up for his first day of training in 2008 without any gloves, and Bulgarian Nikolay Mihaylov, who struggled with his eye test during his medical and never received a work permit to make a single appearance.
Then there was luckless Brazilian Alexander Doni, who was all set to deputise for Pepe Reina in the 2012 FA Cup semi-final against Everton. He had one job – to avoid any issues in the preceding game. Unfortunately, Doni was sent off against Blackburn Rovers so missed his chance for glory.
That opened the door for Australian Brad Jones, who despite his success that day has the dubious honour of being Liverpool’s statistically worst keeper since 1992, conceding an average 1.45 goals per game.
By the time Klopp picked Adam Bogdan and saw him twice concede direct from a corner, Liverpool’s scouts were under orders to up their game on the subject of first and second-choice keepers.
Kelleher has set the bar as high as it has been at Anfield since Jerzy Dudek spent the season deputising for Reina 18 years ago, not only impressing with his shot-stopping but his ability to play from the back.
Liverpool’s young keeper averages 32.8 passes per game. That is more than some Premier League midfielders. Everton duo Idrissa Gueye and Abdoulaye Doucoure, for example, average 32.7 and 28.7 respectively.
Alisson’s imminent return means Kelleher will soon revert to understudy status, missing out on the chance to be Liverpool’s Christmas No 1.
With Georgia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili due to arrive from Valencia next summer, it is an unsustainable position for such a talent, but it will surely be a temporary watching brief.
If he continues to assist Liverpool at the top of the Premier League and Champions League, those who hesitated before will not be guilty of underrating Kelleher again.
Saw some mention in one of the papers today that Chelsea are "preparing a bid" for Kelleher.
That was yesterday's papers.
Today's says they are not.
Which probably says more than enough about what they actually know
It was defo today I saw the reference (back page of a tabloid on the next table in a caff) but I'm sure you're right about the last bit.
It was on the beeb gossip bit that I read it.
Two days in a row, one saying that Chelsea wanted Kelleher and the next saying they didn't.
Clearly the tabloids just reprint each others made up bullshit.
I think this thread deserves a bump. For all the world it’s looking like our succession plan with Alli is working perfectly as designed - in fact you couldn’t script it any better: a talented homegrown keeper has developed in the star GK’s shadow, absorbed his methods and got enough playing time to get tested and grow - a rarity for a #2.
So seeing this good thing happening, are we going to throw it all away? What message would it send to other youngsters developing in our Academy and patiently biding their time, knowing that they will be given a chance to replace their idol if they prove they are good enough? And to all the coaching and development staff who designed this entire process to work exactly as it did, but would see all of their hard work result in a £20M payout from Forest?
I don’t want to oversimplify this - the argument for keepng the best GK in the world who wants to stay and who we have under contract is equally valid. But I do think we need to keep Kelleher no matter what. If the transfer team are utterly confident in their bet on Mamardashvili as Alli’s successor, take the plunge next summer. If not, hit the “undo” button and stick with Alli and Kelleher for the foresseable future - but then it will be an issue of having them actually compete for the #1 spot. What would you do?
So seeing this good thing happening, are we going to throw it all away? What message would it send to other youngsters developing in our Academy and patiently biding their time, knowing that they will be given a chance to replace their idol if they prove they are good enough? And to all the coaching and development staff who designed this entire process to work exactly as it did, but would see all of their hard work result in a £20M payout from Forest?
I don’t want to oversimplify this - the argument for keepng the best GK in the world who wants to stay and who we have under contract is equally valid. But I do think we need to keep Kelleher no matter what. If the transfer team are utterly confident in their bet on Mamardashvili as Alli’s successor, take the plunge next summer. If not, hit the “undo” button and stick with Alli and Kelleher for the foresseable future - but then it will be an issue of having them actually compete for the #1 spot. What would you do?
I was thinking about this earlier - I think there’s a strong case to be made for Irish Kevin keeping his place as starting keeper when Ali’s back.
We have 4 good keepers - we need to shift 2 of them in the summer, although Jaros and/or the new guy can go out on loan.
I feel like Ali’s injuries are going to increase and maybe we should let this be someone else’s problem to deal with - but it’s a risk because he’s clearly still a top level keeper.
Irish Kev - The Chelsea link is interesting because they need a keeper and we need someone we can fleece and I can’t see many other top teams in need of a keeper - Utd, but they can fuck off, maybe Newcastle in part exchange for Isak, but that’ll never happen.
I dunno…. So many different ways this could go.
We have 4 good keepers - we need to shift 2 of them in the summer, although Jaros and/or the new guy can go out on loan.
I feel like Ali’s injuries are going to increase and maybe we should let this be someone else’s problem to deal with - but it’s a risk because he’s clearly still a top level keeper.
Irish Kev - The Chelsea link is interesting because they need a keeper and we need someone we can fleece and I can’t see many other top teams in need of a keeper - Utd, but they can fuck off, maybe Newcastle in part exchange for Isak, but that’ll never happen.
I dunno…. So many different ways this could go.
Can we sell them Mamardashvili? Do we want to?
Bayern should be at the market soon, too.
Cold version: Sell Alisson for absolutely top dollar. Irish Kev takes the number one jersey and Mamardashvili competes for it.
...and then Kelleher leaves for free because his contract expires in 2026.
The cycle continues.
That would be why we’d offer him a new contract on the back of selling Ali, and he starts as No 1.
Marmay can prove his worth by competing.
It’s also why we should loan Jaros out - because, ultimately if we sell Ali & Irish Kev - he’s got yo be ready to step up and be the No 2 - he can Replace Irish Kev and have the League Cup for experience.
Be interesting to see what happens to the other young keepers too.
I mean… why not if some offers us significantly more than we paid for him - but I’m not sure that’s the best option.
I think Fabio’s right with the “cold version” - for me, while Ali is top notch, there’s a bigger risk in letting him, as the older player continue.
I can’t see Irish Kev signing a new contract unless he’s given the No 1 spot - so at least one of Ali or Irish Kev should be sold for top £££ in the summer.
I think the brutal but most sensible approach is to sell Alisson next season. He'll be 33 (which isnt old for GK, obviously), but these injuries will probably start to happen even more regularly in the future.
10 games missed so far this season. 19 games missed last season. All bar 1 game are muscular and hammys.
Sell him for top dollar in the summer and let Irish Kev (with a new contract) and Big Georgy fight it out for the nr 1 spot.
10 games missed so far this season. 19 games missed last season. All bar 1 game are muscular and hammys.
Sell him for top dollar in the summer and let Irish Kev (with a new contract) and Big Georgy fight it out for the nr 1 spot.
This is what I think should happen. As someone said "let your players' legs go on someone elses pitch". Ali has been one of the cornerstones of our team the past 6 years but it is time for succession.
I'd extend Kelleher, make him default #1 based on how well he has earned it and have the Georgian compete for it.
I agree on making Kelleher #1, but I would also keep him and Alisson on for next year unless of course we sell Alisson, and keep that Marma guy out on loan next season. Kelleher is too damn good to sit bench now, but I also think so long as VVD is around - Alisson should not be sold because of his long history and understanding. But under no circumstances should we even consider selling Kelleher to any rival or club in the PL. I mean what's the difference between selling him in his current form or selling one of our other key players ?
You know - part of my belief is actually believing in good luck and bad luck. But when Kelleher was called upon for the first time after Alisson's injury and the next game was against Chelsea - I just knew we would beat Chelsea. I adore his calmness in goal, I guess the only thing missing in his game is a bit of shouting at the defence to sort themselves out in tricky situations, and I say that without actually going to matches and only seeing what he is doing on TV. So if he is vocal for those of you that see him do his stuff in the flesh - ignore that observation.
I don't get the sell him to Chelsea for top dollar angle. Even if we get say £20 million we'd be making a rival's defence irredeemably stronger.
Sanctioning a permanent sale seems foolish. I think we should get him a decent loan with confirmed game time and a costly fee to have him, whilst we reassess. It's a win/win all round. I know he wants to go and be a permanent number one elsewhere, but also most look on nights like last night and wonder how he'll ever match the experience. He could maybe get the likes of Chelsea, but I also question if the club would sell him to a football club that could feasibility be a contender in 18 months, certainly not on the cheap. It's also addressing one of their main weaknesses.
Maybe he would be happier playing for the likes of Brentford, but it's not a given. When Ali is made of glass, he's not a number two. It's a Gakpo/Diaz style situation albeit with less rotation and more injury cover. Ideally, Jaros can be number two next year and Kelleher is out playing top-quality football and so is the Valencia keeper. Less ideally, we sell Kelleher and insert a buy-back/first refusal, etc, into any deal.
I’m remembering a time in my life when the phone was buzzing off the hook with “options” of a different kind 😆
I think there’s two things we cannot do right now. We can’t drop CK (on current form) and we can’t sell Ali.
Everything else we can do - whether With the Georgian or the keeper from St Patrick’s Athletic.
I think there’s two things we cannot do right now. We can’t drop CK (on current form) and we can’t sell Ali.
Everything else we can do - whether With the Georgian or the keeper from St Patrick’s Athletic.
It's a real conundrum for the summer this and Arne will have some tough decisions to make here, keepers are often overlooked in the grand scheme of things but we've seen the importance of benefitting profusely from have 2 exceptional keepers. We no longer "rely" on Ali if you like and that's all praise to Kells.
Ultimately it will depend on what offers are there on the table for either/both. Had Forest offered 27m instead of 7m then I doubt Kells would even be here right now. It's not out of the question Mamardashvili goes on another loan (may've been the plan when we signed him anyway) with Ali and Kells both sticking around next season again.
Ultimately it will depend on what offers are there on the table for either/both. Had Forest offered 27m instead of 7m then I doubt Kells would even be here right now. It's not out of the question Mamardashvili goes on another loan (may've been the plan when we signed him anyway) with Ali and Kells both sticking around next season again.
WTAF- Forest offered 7m? Cheeky fuckers.
Alisson, alongside Firmino, is my favourite player of the Klopp era, as such I still think he's a level above Kelleher, probably always will. For example, I'm sure Ali saves Sakas goal a month or so back, but the gap between them is getting smaller, and unfortunately Alisson's injuries are getting more frequent and longer. I don't want to see him go, but having Kelleher and the new guy spending a season battling out for the number one spot would hardly be the worst situation in the world.
I mean, he's clearly pretty good at this penalty saving, isn't he? Wow.
But why would kelleher want to have that battle?
I think it's all very harsh.
In any other era of football this wouldn't be a conversation. Comes up through the academy. Wins things for us, performs in big games.
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