Liverpool's penalty shoot-out hero Caoimhin Kelleher needs to get himself a loan spell away from Anfield, according to Shay Given.
Irishman Kelleher returned to first-team action this month when the Reds faced Derby County at Anfield in the Carabao Cup and the 23-year-old didn't disappoint, keeping a clean sheet before saving three spot-kicks in a shoot-out that secured save passage to the last 16 for Jurgen Klopp's side.
The back-up 'keeper famously scored a penalty himself at Wembley when Liverpool triumphed in a mammoth 22-man shoot-out, to claim last years Carabao Cup, but with first-choice Alisson Becker looking unmoveable, former Republic of Ireland international glovesman Given believes that now is the time for Kelleher to move away from Merseyside in search of a regular start, for now at least.
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Given told BoyleSports: “It’s a tricky one for Caoimhin. But whether he should stick or twist, for me I’d have to twist. He’s not 18 or 19, don’t get me wrong he has loads of time ahead of him, but I’m sure he wants to be playing.
“Klopp really likes him, because where are you going to get a number two as good as him? You just aren’t. But at the same time you just have one life, one career and I’m sure he’s itching to be playing.”
The majority of Kelleher's 18 first team appearances for Liverpool have come in the domestic cup competitions, with just four in the Premier League and two in the Champions League. A January move away from Anfield seems unlikely for the Cork-born 'keeper, but Given believes that a change of scenery would do his compatriot some good when next season rolls around.
Given added: “Even if Liverpool were to let him go on loan for a season or two, Alisson is that bit older so it’s not impossible that Caoimhin could go out on loan and eventually be brought back and still have a career at Liverpool. Either way, he’s not a number two, he’s definitely a number one.”
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