‘ONE KELL OF A KEEPER AND HE DESERVES FINAL’
EXCLUSIVE
BY DAVID LYNCH
JURGEN KLOPP has made the right call in guaranteeing young goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher a start in next month’s Carabao Cup Final.
That is the view of former Reds shotstopper Chris Kirkland, who believes the Irishman has done more than enough to justify his place between the sticks against Chelsea.
Klopp revealed last week that he will stick with Kelleher after he played a key role in Liverpool’s route to a Wembley showpiece on February 27.
Of that decision, Kirkland (below) said: “It was definitely the right call and the only call for me.
“He’s played in every round and it could kill the lad if you get to the final and, all of a sudden, you don’t play him. It could set him back.
“He deserves to play, he’s been magnificent and man of the match in a few of the games.
“Alisson will want to play but he’ll also accept that Caoimhin should play.
“Alisson has plenty of chances to win things, but Caoimhin deserves it and it’s not a big call for me.”
Although Kelleher has been promised a cup final runout, his chances of displacing first-choice keeper Alisson Becker – still just 29 – in the long term appear slim.
As such, Kirkland believes the youngster may need to seek a move away from Anfield in order to bolster his international prospects with the Republic of Ireland.
He added: “You can’t hold him back. He’s not going to play because of Alisson – apart from a serious injury or a real lack of form, it’s highly unlikely.
“He’s a young lad, but now he’s in the Ireland squad, he made his debut not too long ago, and to be in the national squad he’s got to be playing.
“So he has got a big decision to make and so do Liverpool because the last thing they’ll want to do is lose him.
“Of course, Jurgen won’t want him to go without getting somebody in first that they’re happy with.
“But I think that he needs to go for his development and Liverpool are a fair club, they know that and look after
their players.
“They won’t want
to lose him, but they’ll know they have to set him free at some point.”
As well as his League Cup heroics, Kelleher has featured in two Premier League games so far this season, and Kirkland is not ruling out the possibility of silverware on that front just yet.
He continued: “I still fancy Liverpool for the league. If we win the game in hand, then beat City (on April 9), it’s game on.
“When Mane and Salah come back, that’s going to be a huge boost. The league is far from done.
“Yes, City have got points on the board, but there’s still a long, long way to go and it’s going to be a fascinating end to the season.”