The ECHO’s end-of-season ratings continue with an assessment of Caoimhin Kelleher, whose Liverpool future is shrouded in uncertainty.
Heard the one about the player who by finally realising his long-held Liverpool dream has perhaps convinced himself it is time to leave?
Such is the curious case of Caoimhin Kelleher, whose future at Anfield is under greater scrutiny than ever before following his best season at the club.
Injury and illness to first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker at various stages – not least the hamstring problem that ruled the Brazilian out for several months – ensured Kelleher ended the campaign with 26 appearances.
End-of-season ratings:
Alisson Becker
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Ibrahima Konate
Luis Diaz
Cody Gakpo
Darwin Nunez
Harvey Elliott
Virgil van Dijk
Diogo Jota
Alexis Mac Allister
It was more than the Republic of Ireland international had managed in his previous four seasons combined as a first-team player at Liverpool, with a run of 14 consecutive starts between February and April giving the shot-stopper a taste he had long craved of being a regular between the sticks.
But when Alisson returned, Kelleher found himself immediately back on the bench for the remainder of the campaign.
And with Jurgen Klopp having now departed, the 25-year-old has already admitted he faces a decision over whether to continue at Liverpool or move elsewhere to become a first-choice goalkeeper.
Klopp made good on his promise last summer to hand Kelleher more games by starting him in five of the six Europa League group games.
The League Cup, though, has for several seasons been designated the competition of the Academy graduate and, as in 2022, he helped Liverpool reach the final where another impressive performance against Chelsea at Wembley ensured a 1-0 triumph.
That, though, was one of only five clean sheets Kelleher maintained throughout the campaign, pointing as much at the constant disruption ahead of him rather than any great failings on his part.
Nevertheless, there were a couple of difficult occasions for the goalkeeper, who made mistakes in the 4-3 Premier League home win over Fulham in December and was at fault for the first goal in the calamitous Europa League quarter-final loss against Atalanta at Anfield.
More ratings:
Jarell Quansah
Andy Robertson
Wataru Endo
Dominik Szoboszlai
Mohamed Salah
Curtis Jones
Joe Gomez
Conor Bradley
Kostas Tsimikas
While Alisson was back for the next game, that display against the Serie A side should not be regarded as representative of Kelleher’s showings. He made a string of good saves at key times during games and, in the 1-1 draw at home to Manchester City, underlined once again he is unfazed by the big occasion.
