Liverpool second-choice goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has announced the need step out of the Anfield stadium to display his qualities and prove himself good enough for number one spot. Kelleher was a stand-in for Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker when he was injured last season.
Kelleher played 26 games for Liverpool last season in Alisson’s absence, and the Republic of Ireland international, while speaking to the press ahead of Tuesday’s Nations League game against Greece in Dublin, revealed he wants to play week in and week out despite Liverpool seemingly rejecting bids for him from outside.
“I’ve made it clear in the last few years that I want to go and be a number one and play week in, week out. The club made that decision to get another goalkeeper, and from the outside looking in, it looks like they’ve made a decision to go in a different direction. Sometimes, from the outside looking in, it looks like that’s 100% my decision, but at times, it’s not always in my hands,” said Kelleher.
Liverpool has signed a new goalkeeper, Giorgi Mamardashvili, in a £29m deal from La Liga side Valencia in, although the 23-year-old Georgian will only arrive ahead of the 2025-26 season.
However, Kelleher believes Liverpool, under new manager Arne Slot, have rejected a few bids, although his ambition is clear: to go out and prove that he is good enough.
At the national team level, Southampton’s Gavin Bazunu is the number one, but an injury saw Kelleher promoted to number one. The 25-year-old showed his qualities despite the 2-0 defeat to England on Saturday, at Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
Ireland welcomes Greece for another Nations League fixture on Tuesday with hopes of securing a clean sheet and impressing the new coach, Heimir Hallgrimsson, who will be in charge for his second game.