Jurgen Klopp has clarified his stance on the future of Caoimhin Kelleher
Speaking in an interview, as quoted by the Mirror, Jurgen Klopp has stated that he would be willing to let Caoimhin Kelleher go out on loan if an able deputy is available.
Kelleher’s heroics helped Liverpool clinch the Carabao Cup title against Chelsea on Sunday. He made numerous saves during the game to keep the score at 0-0. The young shot-stopper also showed no nerves while dispatching the deciding penalty during the shootout that eventually won Liverpool the Cup.
The Liverpool No. 2 keeper has been in the club’s ranks since 2015, showing promise through the youth levels before eventually being promoted as Alisson Becker’s deputy. Since then, Kelleher has done extremely well whenever he has deputized for Alisson in the Premier League and also in the cup games.
Sunday’s performance against Chelsea has won Kelleher a lot of plaudits from around the world, and there have even been calls from those in Ireland for him to leave Anfield and move to a club where he can be a sure shot starter.
Manchester City loanee Gavin Bazunu has been Ireland’s first-choice shot-stopper, but it may not be long before Kelleher takes over that position.
Despite all the noise surrounding him, Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that the 23-year-old ‘keeper is not for sale, and goes on to claim that even a loan move is not being considered at the moment.
“There’s absolutely no intention to sell him or something like that or give him a loan. Not at all.”
Klopp goes on to say that Kelleher is very happy with the club, and having signed a long-term contract, has a long-term future at Anfield. However, he did acknowledge that the club wants the Irish ace to become the best version of himself, and he may be loaned out in the future if the need arises.
“Maybe there is a year he will have to go on loan, I’m not sure it will be next year or maybe a year later.”
The German manager states that loaning out Kelleher will be an option only if an able deputy is found. He says that having a second choice goalkeeper of high quality is essential for the club and that there will be no compromise in that regard.
The Reds still have Adrian who can step in if the need arises. The Spanish goalkeeper has not had the best of times at Liverpool but he can be an able deputy when required. Liverpool also have the highly-rated 19-year-old Brazilian keeper Marcelo Pitaluga in their ranks who can step into the No.2 role if Kelleher is loaned out.
However, Liverpool fans would still have their reservations about Adrian. The Spaniard couldn’t become a regular starter at West Ham United and has had high-profile howlers for us already, with his mistakes in the UCL tie against Atletico Madrid in the 2019/20 season still fresh in our memories.
Having played an exhausting 120 minutes and penalties on Sunday, Kelleher is not expected to start Liverpool’s fifth-round FA cup tie against Norwich tonight. However, with Alisson Becker available and well-rested, he could take his place between the sticks for Liverpool against the Canaries.
A chance for the unprecedented quadruple?
Having won the Carabao cup already, and still in the reckoning for 3 other major competitions this season, Klopp was inevitably quizzed about Liverpool’s chances of winning the quadruple, to which he said,
“No team in the history of English football ever won the quadruple, right? Because it’s really difficult. We are not even close to thinking about crazy stuff like that.”
While the manager might decide to play down the prospect, Liverpool are well and truly in the reckoning to achieve the quadruple this season and have the quality required to do the same.
More Liverpool News
- Injury Update: Liverpool star to miss FA Cup clash against Norwich
- “Never in my wildest dream”- Kelleher makes admission after Carabao Cup victory
- “He deserves it”- Klopp sheds light on his decision to start Kelleher in the EFL Cup final
With a packed schedule, rotation will be necessary as Liverpool look to have all their main players fit and firing as they approach the business end of the season. Kelleher will get his opportunities, and he will be hoping to show what he is capable of consistently.
