Caoimhin Kelleher hasn’t just filled in for the best goalkeeper in the world recently. He’s actually replaced Alisson Becker between the sticks for Liverpool. That is how good the 26-year-old has been for the table-topping Reds.
By Sam McGuire
Arne Slot’s side haven’t missed the big Brazilian during his latest injury lay-off. Their 100% record in the Champions League remains intact while they’ve managed to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to nine points.
Rival teams struggle when a star player misses a run of games. Look at Manchester City without Rodri and Arsenal sans Martin Ødegaard. Others might’ve allowed their season to be derailed by the loss of their No1. Had Liverpool’s form taken a hit, nobody would’ve been shocked. After all, they’re missing one of the best goalkeepers in Premier League history.
And there’s no real incentive for Kelleher to perform well for the Reds. Slot already confirmed that Alisson is his undisputed starter when fit. The impending arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili also suggests the Republic of Ireland international doesn’t have a future on Merseyside.
The Cork native could’ve come into the XI and gone through the motions until the return of Alisson. You wouldn’t really have blamed him either, would you? No matter what he does, he’s going to be on borrowed time in the first team. A move is already on the horizon.
Thankfully for the Reds, Kelleher has remained entirely focused. He’s performed like a player with a point to prove. Maybe he did have a point to prove after the Reds opted to bring in Mamardashvili as the heir to Alisson. Whatever the reason behind it, the 22-cap international is a key reason behind Liverpool finding themselves in such a dominant position right now.
In four of his last five starts for the Reds, he has a FotMob rating of over 8.1. In two of these games, he’s saved a penalty. He thwarted Adam Armstong from the spot in the 3-2 win over Southampton and repelled a Kylian Mbappé effort against Real Madrid as Slot’s men ran out 2-0 winners over the European champions. He then triumphed in a one-on-one with Kevin De Bruyne after a rare Virgil van Dijk error as Liverpool claimed a 2-0 win over Manchester City at Anfield.
Kelleher has been exceptional between the sticks this term and these performances have come during the toughest run of fixtures for the Reds.
He’s been in the starting XI for games against Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton, Aston Villa and Manchester City in the Premier League and RB Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen and LaLiga champions Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Before this run of fixtures, rival fans earmarked this period as make-or-break for the unlikely title hopefuls. The fact they dropped points in one game – a 2-2 draw with Arsenal – is remarkable, all things considered.
The recently turned 26-year-old has spared the blushes of senior players recently. Bailing Andrew Robertson out against Madrid and skipper Virgil van Dijk against City.
Robertson took to Instagram to thank the shot-stopper, declaring he owed him dinner, while Van Dijk singled out the No. 62 for praise recently.
“He is a fantastic goalkeeper, a fantastic human being. It is never easy to be a backup goalkeeper but in his case he is having an unbelievable, amazing goalkeeper in Alisson in front of him.
“But the time he has been playing he has been absolutely outstanding. I really enjoy seeing how much he has improved and is playing with confidence. I remember one of his first games when he won us the penalty shoot-out (against Arsenal in the League Cup in 2019/20) and he has come from a long way and he is an amazing goalkeeper.” Asked if Slot will have a difficult decision to make when Alisson returns to full fitness, Van Dijk added:
“Listen, that’s football. We will see. The manager decides but he (Kelleher) did fantastically up until now so we will see what happens.”
The numbers back up the optics too.
For example, Kelleher, in his seven Premier League starts this season, has prevented 2.1 goals. Alisson, in his six starts, has prevented 2.7 goals. The Republic of Ireland international has saved almost 80% of the shots he’s faced while the ex-Roma man has saved 88%. Both have kept three clean sheets.
The No.62 is doing his best Alisson impression and this is allowing Slot to manage the Brazilian’s return.
He said as much in his pre-match Newcastle United conference: “I think I was clear about our position in the goalkeepers a few weeks ago, but we are just waiting for the moment Alisson is completely fit because Kelleher is doing too well to put Alisson in goal if he is only 50%. He is getting there, it might take a few more days but he’s getting closer and closer. He will be in goal before the end of December.”
On current form, Kelleher isn’t just the best second choice goalkeeper in the Premier League. He might actually be the second best goalkeeper in the English top-flight. This period in the first-team may have changed his entire career. He’s played his way into a big move and it will be well deserved.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
You can follow every game from the Premier League on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.