What do Liverpool do with Caoimhin Kelleher?

Liverpool's Irish goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher holds the winner's trophy after the English League Cup final football match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium, north-west London on February 27, 2022. - Liverpool won the match 11-10 on penalties after extra time. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

The 24-year-old goalkeeper is perhaps the best second-choice goalie in the league.

However, I’m sure that’s not a label he wants.

Caoimhin Kelleher is an incredibly talented goalkeeper but the fact of the matter is, he has the best goalkeeper in the world ahead of him, Alisson Becker.

The Irishman has made just three appearances in all competitions this season and has certainly not been helped by Liverpool’s quick exits from both the FA Cup and the EFL Cup.

That begs the question, what do Liverpool do with Caoimhin Kelleher?

Keep him

Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images

Well, the easy answer would certainly be to keep him.

He’s an outstandingly reliable keeper and with a contract running until 2026, Liverpool are in no rush to think about his future.

Mostly with second-choice keepers, there is an air of ‘he just might make a mistake’ but for most Liverpool fans, such thinking does not exist when Kelleher comes into the side.

Time and time again, he has proved himself to be a keeper with huge potential and one that can certainly be a starter at a top-10 Premier League club.

Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images

Kelleher could possibly be the best penalty shot stopper in the league despite making just four appearances in the Premier League throughout his entire career.

That’s thanks to his exploits in cup competitions where he’s taken part in four penalty shootouts, saving six penalties and winning all of them.

That’s a club record and just absolutely remarkable numbers.

Liverpool have a gem in Kelleher which is something not many clubs around the world can say for their second-choice goalie.

Sell him for a sizeable fee

Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images

Liverpool could certainly command a fee of over £20 million for the 24-year-old but the question remains, how do you replace him?

Kelleher turns 25 later this year and at some point, it's inevitable that he will want to play more first-team action. But, at Liverpool, there will be a limit to his game time due to the brilliance of Alisson.

The keeper could start for a Premier League team at this moment in his career and it all depends on his ambition, he will have a better chance of challenging for trophies at Liverpool than he would at most clubs.

Liverpool are in a difficult spot as they navigate this future with the only positive side of the situation is that they have time to make a decision.

Share this article