Klopp keeping the faith with Kelleher

AT the start of this season, Liverpool’s backup stopper still had more years to his name than senior appearances for the club.

While that’s not too much of an issue for youngsters making their way in the game, Caoimhin Kelleher isn’t really a youth candidate any longer: even in goalkeeper terms, 25 years old is pushing towards mid-career territory and with Alisson Becker ahead of him at Anfield, regular minutes have always been hard to come by.

But this season has been slightly different. A start at Brentford on short notice, after the Brazilian suffered an apparent hamstring injury on the eve of the game, brought Kelleher up to 14 appearances for the campaign, 35 for the club overall.

It’s easily his best season in terms of game time, but also for consistency of performances, with Jurgen Klopp describing his showing in the 4-1 win at the Gtech Community Stadium as “exceptional”.

Already the Reds’ League Cup goalkeeper, the

Irishman has also been a beneficiary of Liverpool playing in the Europa League – as well as Alisson’s ongoing penchant for collecting relatively shortterm absences.

Now Kelleher is in the midst of perhaps his most notable run in the team, faces the prospect of trying to win a second domestic cup medal and will play a pivotal role in Liverpool’s Premier League title chances – a period which could arguably make his career and push his international prospects.

It’s not certain he’ll continue to be No.1 in European games the longer the Reds continue their journey, but Liverpool remain top of the Premier League for now and inclusion against Luton in midweek will be his fifth League appearance of the campaign.

“He was outstanding today; if Ireland have a better goalkeeper then respect,” the Liverpool boss said after the win over

Brentford. “We gave him more games this season than previously and it’s well-deserved and now the situation with Ali being injured shows it makes sense. It was an A+ performance today.”

Conor Bradley also returned with another accomplished display at rightback, easing the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold.

But now Klopp will need to potentially do the same in further positions, replacing three of his most in-form players who went off against Brentford in Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez.

“That part of the game is not good but we can’t change it. The performance level could have dropped but it was exceptional, by far the best game since I’m here, here at Brentford. I saw a top game,” Klopp said.

“We have to see, we don’t know yet. Curtis got a knock above the ankle, we’ll have to see what he felt. Diogo looks the worst.

“Darwin we took off because he said he feels something ‘little’ and today that’s enough to push the brakes.” – The Independent