Liverpool supporters might have been pardoned for anticipating a downturn in fortune upon learning of the absence of their first-choice goalkeeper, Alisson Becker, until after the impending international hiatus.
Alisson was absent from the Premier League fixture against Burnley a few weekends back due to illness. Subsequently, he suffered a hamstring injury before the subsequent match against Brentford.
With a series of significant fixtures looming, such as the Carabao Cup final versus Chelsea and a potential title showdown against Manchester City, Alisson’s absence dealt Jurgen Klopp another substantial injury setback.
At Anfield, the injury crisis deepens, with key players like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah, and Darwin Nunez all sidelined.
Caoimhin Kelleher has long served as Alisson’s deputy, first joining the Premier League squad list in the 2018-19 season. He has proven dependable whenever called upon, notably contributing to the Carabao Cup final triumph against Chelsea in 2022.
Liverpool secured victory in the final with an impressive 11-10 win on penalty kicks. The decisive moment came when the Irishman stepped up to take the final kick, securing the Reds their ninth League Cup title, setting a new record.
Despite Alisson’s injury, the 25-year-old seized the opportunity to showcase his skill once again. This performance reassured fans, demonstrating why there is little cause for concern moving forward.
Kelleher Keeps Another Wembley Clean Sheet
Liverpool faced off against Chelsea once more at Wembley, with Kelleher showcasing exceptional form, pulling off remarkable saves against Cole Palmer and Conor Gallagher, among others. His stellar performance ensured a clean sheet and provided Liverpool with a strong foundation for victory.
In the dying moments of extra time, Virgil van Dijk rose to the occasion, nodding in a crucial header that secured the cup once again for Liverpool. This pivotal goal not only clinched the trophy but also earned Kelleher his second medal.
Having participated in two League Cup finals for Liverpool, Kelleher has emerged victorious on both occasions, maintaining a perfect record of two clean sheets. Over the course of these matches, he has faced an impressive total of 13 shots on target, with an expected goals (xG) tally reaching 3.9.
“I’m one of his biggest fans, I’ve always said he was world class,” was the assessment of Van Dijk afterwards in a post-match interview with Sky Sports. “Good boy, good goalkeeper and we need that at a club like Liverpool.”
Despite Alisson being sidelined for the foreseeable future, Liverpool’s safety is unquestionable with capable hands at the helm.
In other Liverpool news, 3 Things Jurgen Klopp Got Right as Injury-ravaged Liverpool Beat Chelsea to Win the Carabao Cup Title