Photograph: Carl Recine/Reuters
Caoimhín Kelleher knows the pain of being a perennial understudy, awaiting an opportunity to show he is equal to Alisson. The Liverpool goalkeeper will get his second Premier League start of the season against Chelsea. The 25-year-old will once again deputise for his injured colleague and knows that to become first choice, he will most likely need to leave Anfield to rid himself of the frustration built up by mostly being an observer.
The Republic of Ireland international made 26 Liverpool appearances last season, leading him to help defeat Sunday’s opponents in the Carabao Cup final. It was the second time Kelleher lifted the trophy after beating Chelsea, scoring a penalty in the shootout two years ago to put him centre stage. He is known as the best darts player at the club but that has never been enough to oust Alisson for the title he truly desires.
“There is going to be frustration not playing week in, week out,” Kelleher says. “But for the last few seasons I have known there will be opportunities to play as well, so it was in the back of my mind that I still need to be ready. I can’t not be ready or not doing the right things because there will be times when the opportunity comes to get a chance to play.
“There has been frustration but I have been professional because if I am not ready I am not doing myself justice. I need to give myself the best chance to play as well as I can.”
A sharp shot-stopper and comfortable with the ball at his feet, Kelleher’s performances have helped increase his value while potentially decreasing the number of teams that can afford him. Nottingham Forest made a late bid to sign Kelleher in August but Liverpool were unwilling to sell. With Alisson ahead of him in Arne Slot’s pecking order and Giorgi Mamardashvili set to arrive next summer, the prospect of Kelleher ever becoming No 1 at Anfield looks difficult.
“It does work both ways,” Kelleher says. “I played so many times last season and if you do well your valuation goes up. The club is going to want to get good profit. My intention is to do as well as I can and show my ability, play well and give the manager something to think about, give him a headache maybe. If I play so well, how can he take me out? Something like that. That is where my head is at, just to try to do as well as I can to put some pressure on at least.”
Kelleher has never lost against Chelsea in three appearances and will be aiming to add to that record at Anfield. This season he has started in wins over Bournemouth and West Ham, the latter coming in the Carabao Cup. When Allison suffered his hamstring injury, which is set to keep him out for at least the next seven matches, at Crystal Palace before the international break, Kelleher was absent through illness. Czech international Vitezslav Jaros came off the bench to make his debut as Liverpool held on for a sixth Premier League win of the season.
“It’s been brilliant every time I’ve played them,” Kelleher says of facing Chelsea. “Two finals as well. Happy memories – hopefully there will be more. The penalty shootout [in 2022] is the main one, but last season was even more enjoyable the way it went with the young lads from the academy coming on. That was special for everyone, backs against the wall and winning in extra time.
“To play one of the biggest teams in England in a final, a big occasion, it gets a lot of attention from the world. So the first final was the first time I have been in the spotlight – it was a good start for my career.”
Goalkeepers are often close to their rivals off the pitch, part of the union they have formed because no one else understands them. Although seeing Alisson suffer four muscular injuries in less than a year is beneficial for Kelleher, it comes with the knowledge that his friend is hurting.
“First and foremost he is a teammate and I am good mates with Ali, we are close so I sent him a text to say sorry about the injury,” Kelleher says. “It is not nice for him and I don’t like to see that happen to anyone, but it gives me opportunities to play some games which for me is a good thing.”
Slot has seen no reason to make a change in goal since replacing Jürgen Klopp but was happy Kelleher did not leave. The Dutchman has tweaked things tactically across the pitch but the trusted Brazilian is still the foundation of his team and when Alisson returns, Kelleher will almost certainly return to the bench.
“I spoke with the manager about the situation – but I was quite clear before he came in and it was never going to change because the fact is that I am up against Alisson and he’s one of the best in the world, so he’s always going to be No 1 and he’s always going to play,” says Kelleher.
“There were other factors, like negotiations with clubs as well as Liverpool needing to be happy. It just didn’t materialise and I didn’t get a move. But it’s not the worst thing in the world to stay at a club like Liverpool.”
Kelleher is likely to have a headache when he needs to decide where to move next summer but the short-term aim is to ensure Slot is the one who requires an aspirin.
