Caoimhin Kelleher may have stolen the headlines with his heroics in Liverpool’s 2-0 triumph over Real Madrid, but manager Arne Slot has reaffirmed that Alisson Becker will reclaim the No. 1 spot once fully fit.
Arne Slot Confirms ‘Outstanding’ Liverpool Star Set to Lose Starting Place
Kelleher, the Republic of Ireland international, has been exceptional during Alisson’s absence, which has now stretched to nearly two months due to a hamstring injury.
The young keeper’s performances have been pivotal in maintaining Liverpool’s stronghold at the top of both the Premier League and Champions League standings.
His latest heroics—a crucial penalty save against Kylian Mbappe—underlined his growing stature.
Despite this, Slot reiterated his stance on Liverpool’s goalkeeping hierarchy, emphasizing that Alisson, who recently returned to parts of team training, remains the first-choice shot-stopper.
“I think every decision I have to make is a difficult one, because we have so many quality players,” Slot admitted when asked about the competition between his two keepers.
Slot also chose to focus on Kelleher’s standout moment rather than the future selection dilemma.
“Tonight shouldn’t be about that. It should be about Caoimh being so important for us,” he said.
“If you see Mbappe behind the ball, you probably think what everyone else does – that it’s going in. And then he saved it. It was a big, special moment for him.”
Alisson, widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in world football, has been integral to Liverpool’s success since joining the club in 2018.
However, Kelleher’s performances have given fans plenty to cheer about and raised questions about his long-term future, with many believing the 25-year-old could be a starter elsewhere.
For now, though, Slot remains unwavering. With Liverpool preparing for a crunch clash against title rivals Manchester City this weekend, the return of a fit Alisson will undoubtedly be a significant boost.
But Kelleher’s contributions in recent weeks are unlikely to be forgotten anytime soon.
As Slot concluded, “Let tonight be about Caoimh. He was outstanding, and he deserves every bit of praise he’s getting.”
