“Powerless”: National Media Insist “Questions Remain” Over Liverpool Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher After Last Night’s Performance
Five Liverpool players represented their countries on Thursday, with three securing victories while two suffered defeats.
On Friday, five more players are set to feature, including Dominik Szoboszlai, the Reds’ Dutch trio, and Mohamed Salah.
Due to recent developments in their goalkeeping situation, Liverpool fans will also be paying close attention to Giorgi Mamardashvili’s performance for Georgia against Ukraine.
It was announced on Wednesday that Alisson Becker will miss at least Liverpool’s next seven matches, placing the spotlight once again on Caoimhin Kelleher, who will need to step up.
Kelleher demonstrated last season that he is more than capable of deputizing for Alisson, but Mamardashvili’s signing has cast doubt on his long-term future at the club.
In the meantime, Kelleher’s elevated status at Liverpool has led him to become the first-choice goalkeeper for Ireland.
However, despite solid performances for his country, there is still one significant ‘question’ lingering over the Liverpool academy graduate.
Caoimhin Kelleher Question Mark Revealed
Caoimhin Kelleher is set to play a crucial role for Liverpool in the upcoming weeks. The Reds face a demanding schedule, and they will need Kelleher to perform at his peak during this period.
Fortunately, his regular appearances for the national team should boost his confidence and help him build match rhythm before club football resume.
Winning matches is always a confidence booster, and Ireland achieved that on Thursday by defeating Finland 2-1 in Dublin.
As anticipated, Kelleher completed the full 90 minutes for Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side. However, according to the national outlet RTE, it wasn’t one of his strongest performances.
Kelleher was given a rating of 6 out of 10 by RTE, who noted that there were still concerns regarding his communication with the defense.
The 25-year-old had a reported miscommunication with center-back Nathan Collins, but Finland did not capitalise on the error. RTE advised that Kelleher needs to be more vocal with his defenders.
Despite this minor issue, Kelleher was generally considered to have done well, being described as “alert and switched on when required.”
The Irish Examiner also gave Kelleher a six out of ten for his performance, pointing out a few routine saves. They emphasised that Kelleher was not at fault for the goal Finland scored, as he was deemed “powerless” to prevent it.
Liverpool Upcoming Fixtures
It is important to note that, despite the fact that Kelleher will turn 26 next month, he remains a relatively inexperienced goalkeeper. The Ireland international has not yet made 70 appearances in senior football.
However, Kelleher displays a level of confidence and authority that is rare for someone who hasn’t had regular playing time. This is why Liverpool value him at over £25 million.
Even so, there are still some minor issues that need to be addressed. For instance, although Caoimhín has grown into his role at Liverpool, there are moments when he could be more vocal and commanding.
This will improve with more game time, and fortunately, Kelleher will have the opportunity to gain that experience over the next six weeks.
With Alisson set to miss seven matches, Kelleher, the No.2 goalkeeper, will play against Chelsea, RB Leipzig, Arsenal, Brighton (twice), Bayer Leverkusen, and Aston Villa. These games will provide him with ample opportunities to enhance his communication skills.
In other news, How National Media Reacted to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Performance in England’s Shøck Defeat to Greece
