Virgil van Dijk has already revealed his honest thoughts on Caoimhin Kelleher, who is set to play a huge role for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp in the Premier League title-race run-in. Nottingham Forest will welcome the Reds to the City Stadium on Saturday afternoon as Jurgen Klopp’s side hope to defend their place at the top of the Premier League.
As the title race builds a head of steam, with Manchester City and Arsenal close behind top spot, Liverpool will be determined to extend their five-game winning streak. However, they’ll have to persevere without Alisson Becker, who suffered a hamstring injury in training earlier this month.
Klopp has previously suggested that the 31-year-old goalkeeper could return shortly after the March international break, but his knock could be worse than first thought. Speaking to reporters ahead of the Reds’ trip to the East Midlands, the German described Alisson’s injury as a ‘rather serious one’.
“There is no real timescale on it, but it is a proper muscle injury,” Klopp said. “Different players recover differently. That is it pretty much. It is not a short one. It is not that he will be in contention for next week or something like that.
While City and Arsenal may believe that Liverpool have been dealt a major blow to their title chances with Alisson out, Van Dijk has already explained that the Reds have the upmost trust in Kelleher, who Klopp will need to call upon as he seeks to bow out from Anfield with another league title. Speaking on Sky Sports following their Carabao Cup triumph last week, the Dutch defender described the Irishman as ‘world-class’.
He said: “He should have got it. I’m probably one of his biggest fans, I think. I have always said he is world class and he stepped up today, again. It’s good to see. He’s a good boy, good goalkeeper and that’s what we need at a club like Liverpool.”
Meanwhile, Klopp later added: “Caoimh was unbelievable. Such a mature performance. I say it often: we have the best goalkeeper in the world and the best Number two in the world. I’m so happy for him. Top game.”
With Van Dijk and Klopp singing Kelleher’s praises, it appears as if the Liverpool squad have no qualms that their number two can play a crucial role in the title race.
