Liverpool decision to block Caoimhín Kelleher exit vindicated

Another hamstring injury to Alisson Becker means a spell between the posts for the Republic of Ireland international.

Mon, 07 Oct, 2024 - 07:00

Ian Winrow, Selhurst Park

Premier League: Crystal Palace 0 Liverpool 1

For the next month or so at least, the in-house darts league at Liverpool’s training ground may well become a little less of a procession.

Caoimhín Kelleher is set to have his work cut out judging the flight of shots and crosses rather than tungsten arrows as he grasps another opportunity to dispel Jurgen Klopp’s well-meant but slightly unfortunate description of him as the world’s best No 2 goalkeeper.

The Anfield club’s reluctance to allow the 25-year-old to move on in the summer in search of regular first-team football may have been met with a certain level of dismay by the Republic of Ireland international. However, the reasoning, based on the increasing fragility of Alisson Becker’s body, was proved to be astute, with a ping of the Brazilian’s right hamstring with 10 minutes remaining at Selhurst Park.

An untimely illness prevented Kelleher from taking to the field as Liverpool cemented their place at the top of the Premier League, a ninth victory in 10 games this season making Arne Slot the first Reds boss to achieve that impressive statistic from the outset of their reign.

The task fell instead to third-choice Vitezslav Jaros, the Czech Republic international belatedly making his Liverpool debut after more than seven years at the club, including the 2021 campaign on loan at St Patrick’s Athletic.

“We have to wait and see,” said Slot of Alisson. “But it’s going to take a few weeks I assume for him to be back. He’s clearly our No 1; he’s the best goalkeeper in the world and it’s always a blow when he gets injured, not only for him but for us as a team.”

A self-confessed darts-aholic who regularly takes on and beats all comers as a way to relax with his colleagues after training, Kelleher can look forward to more time patrolling his penalty area than the oche as he prepares to fill the void at a particularly hectic and testing spell of the season when the latest momentum-stifling international break is out of the way.

“I want to be playing week-in, week-out,” he insisted last week after successfully stepping in twice for Alisson last month. Kelleher said: “At present the situation for me is I’ll get these opportunities and I need to do well when I get that chance to show everyone I’m capable and good enough. The most important thing is to be ready when called on and that’s what I will be.”

This is far from uncharted territory for Kelleher, whose total of 26 domestic appearances last season was more than in his previous four seasons combined and only six fewer than Alisson, so the Premier League leaders know what they’re getting.

Kelleher can ready himself for upcoming fixtures against the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Leverkusen, Aston Villa, and Newcastle before Alisson is even in a position to contemplate a return.

Slot insists he has full confidence in the understudy to step up again and take his chance.

The Dutchman, whose side claimed victory at Selhurst Park thanks to an early Diogo Jota goal, added: “In almost every position we have a second option and for me that is really good. Caoimhín has already shown that, so it’s clear he can have an impact on our results.”

The visit of Chelsea to Anfield after the international will provide the keeper with his latest chance to state his case.

CRYSTAL PALACE (3-4-2-1): Henderson 7; Chalobah 4 (Kamada 88, 4), Guehi 6, Lacroix 5; Munoz 5 (Clyne 17, 5), Wharton 5 (Hughes 60, 6), Lerma 7, Mitchell 3 (Mateta 60, 7); Sarr 7, Eze 6; Nketiah 6. Booked: Lerma, Hughes, Sarr, Nketiah.

LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alison 7 (Jaros 80, 7); Alexander-Arnold 7, Konate 7, van Dijk 7, Tsimikas 7 (Robertson 80, 6); Jones 6 (Endo 89, 6), Gravenberch 7, MacAllister 6 (Szoboszlai 46, 6) ; Salah 6 (Diaz 72, 6), Gakpo 6, Jota 6.

Referee: Simon Hooper 6