Caoimhin Kelleher continues to impress after making his third penalty save in two weeks – this time a shot from French superstar Kylian Mbappe – as Liverpool beat Real Madrid 2-0.
The 26-year-old, who has been a stand-in for first-choice goalkeeper Alisson since mid-October, went down low to the left to keep Mbappe’s effort out and secure another clean sheet.
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He has yet to concede in three Champions League games this season – and saved all 13 shots he has faced.
I was confident and luckily went the right way again,” Kelleher modestly told TNT Sport.
BBC pundit Chris Sutton said: “You look at the goalkeeper position – Caoimhin Kelleher has always been outstanding, he’s got a brilliant temperament. In many ways, it wasn’t a big surprise to see him save a penalty.”
Earlier in November, he held off a brace from Finland’s Joel Pohjanpalo in a 1-0 win for Ireland – and also saved a spot-kick from Southampton’s Adam Armstrong in Liverpool’s 3-2 win on Sunday, although the rebound was overturned.
And yet when Alisson is back from his hamstring injury, Kelleher will be back as a benchwarmer.
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Kelleher ‘outstanding’ – but Alisson will return when he’s fit
Alisson, considered the world’s best goalkeeper by many, suffered a hamstring injury during Liverpool’s win over Crystal Palace on October 5 and hasn’t played since. – The 32-year-old has played 271 times since a £66.8m move from Roma in 2018 – winning the Champions League and Premier League.
The Brazilian had been expected to have recovered by now, but seems to be only back with individual and not team training.
So Kelleher is likely to play again on Sunday against title rivals Manchester City. But Liverpool manager Arne Slot has already made it clear that “the moment Alisson gets fit he will be our first goalkeeper”.
Speaking after the Real Madrid game, Slot said: “Kelleher was outstanding. He’s done remarkable for us,” before adding, “just like our other goalkeeper who’s been remarkable as well.”
Kelleher has kept five clean sheets in 10 games for Liverpool this season – conceding just seven goals.
Former England defender Gary Cahill, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, said: “The old saying is ‘when you have a chance you have to take it’ and Caoimhin Kelleher has certainly done that.
“Liverpool have a world-class goalkeeper in Alisson who will probably come back, but it’s a good headache for the manager to have.”
What could happen in the future?
Alisson is 32 and seems to be suffering from an unusually high number of injuries for a goalkeeper.
Kelleher has patiently waited for years for his chance at Anfield – but this summer Liverpool announced a deal to sign Valencia and Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, now 24, in a deal worth up to £29 million at the end of the season.
After being a target for Nottingham Forest earlier this year, Kelleher indicated in September that he had to go in search of first-team football.
“I’ve made it clear over the last few years that I want to go and be number one and play week in, week out,” he said.
“The club has made that decision to get a different goalkeeper and from the outside it looks like they have made a decision to go in a different direction.”
With Kelleher hugely popular at Anfield, there are some who believe selling Alisson could be an option.
But there are no indications from Liverpool that this is what is on the agenda.
How good is Kelleher?
Kelleher’s record when facing penalties is quite remarkable.
In normal play, he has saved four of the six spot kicks he has faced for club and country.
And he also holds Liverpool’s club record for penalty saves – stopping six kicks in four Carabao Cup games.
On top of that, he has scored one – Liverpool’s 11th kick in the 2022 EFL Cup final over Chelsea.
After the Republic of Ireland’s Nations League win over Finland, former striker Kevin Doyle told RTE: “I think in five or six years’ time he’s going to be among the best goalkeepers in the world.
He’s so good at everything he does. He has everything in the closet.
For Opta’s goals prevented metric, which are goals conceded against expected goals on goal, Kelleher ranks third among Premier League goalkeepers since his debut, even above Alisson.
He hasn’t made any mistakes that lead to goals – and he also ranks high on saves and successful passes.
Does he need to play games?
One of Kelleher’s predecessors at the international level, Shay Given, told BBC Radio 5 Live last month: “He’s not getting any younger. Every game that goes by where he doesn’t play, he will never come back.
“I only have one career, one life, and one opportunity to be a top goalie.”
Kelleher, who has never been on loan, has only played 57 games of club football – all for Liverpool – at the age of 26.
He is older than incoming Reds goalkeeper Mamardashvili, who has made 179 club appearances, and Italy’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, who has played 402 times for AC Milan and Paris St-Germain.
His main rival for the Republic of Ireland’s number one shirt is 22-year-old Gavin Bazunu, who has played 162 times for four different clubs, including current club Southampton.
