“I Want to Do” – Caoimhin Kelleher Rejects Transfer Claim as Liverpool “Frustration” Made Clear
Caoimhin Kelleher is set to stand in for Alisson Becker in goal for Liverpool over the coming weeks.
Kelleher has dismissed the idea that his extended time in the Liverpool team is a chance to showcase himself for potential suitors.
The Liverpool goalkeeper will replace Alisson, who is out until at least late November after it was confirmed that the Brazilian sustained a hamstring injury during the club’s 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace on October 5.
Liverpool face a tough seven-game schedule leading up to the November international break, starting with Chelsea’s visit to Anfield on Sunday. This will be followed by a Champions League clash against RB Leipzig on Wednesday and a trip to Arsenal on October 27.
Following these games, Liverpool will have consecutive encounters with Brighton, first away in the Carabao Cup and then at home in the Premier League. A match against Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield will follow, and the run concludes with a visit from Aston Villa.
As long as he remains fit, Kelleher will be Liverpool’s starting goalkeeper during this period in place of Alisson.
However, the Republic of Ireland international denies that this stretch is an opportunity to attract interest from other clubs, despite ongoing speculation about his future after Nottingham Forest’s late summer window interest was rebuffed by Liverpool.
“I am not looking at it as anything other than I have an opportunity to play a few games, so I want to do as well as I can,” Kelleher says. “There is no point making this a bigger picture than it is. It is just me getting the opportunity to play some games.
“Obviously the team is doing quite well, I want to help the team keep winning in the league and the Champions League as well. That is my main ambition – to help the team and help myself by doing well.”
Liverpool announced before the transfer window closed that they had reached an agreement with Valencia to sign Georgia international Giorgi Mamardashvili for £29 million next year, adding more competition for Kelleher at Anfield.
The ex-Ringmahon Rangers goalkeeper revealed that no discussions took place between him and the club’s officials prior to the signing of Mamardashvili. He also expressed his frustration over not getting as much playing time as he desires.
He added: “No conversations [about Mamardashvili signing], no. Like you say, that is next summer, so I am not thinking about that now. I am just concentrating on doing as well as I can now while I have these games.
“I think there’s going to be frustration at not playing week in and week out, that is clear. But with me, I obviously know from last year, there are opportunities to be playing here at the back of mind. I can’t just not be ready and not doing the right things because there will be times when you get an opportunity and a chance to play.
“So yeah, that was in the back of my mind and obviously there was some frustration but I have always been professional and I always will be and I need to be ready for whenever because if I am not ready then I am not doing myself justice. So I need to give myself the best chance when I do get the opportunities.”
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