Caoimhin Kelleher pulled no punches when he was asked about his Liverpool future earlier this month. “I’ve made it clear in the last few years that I want to go and be a No. 1 and play week in, week out,” Kelleher said while on international duty with Ireland.
“The club’s made that decision to get another goalkeeper (Giorgi Mamardashvili), and from the outside looking in, it looks like they’ve made a decision to go in a different direction.”
While Kelleher’s palpable frustration about being denied a late summer move to Nottingham Forest was understandable, it has not taken long for Liverpool’s decision not to sanction a departure to be vindicated, with a hamstring injury ruling Alisson Becker out of the Reds’ clash with Bournemouth.
Kelleher’s inclusion against the Cherries reinforced the importance of having an accomplished reserve goalkeeper, particularly if your club harbours ambitions of winning major silverware. The Irishman was typically solid when called upon on Saturday afternoon, rushing out to smother a first-half shot from Antoine Semenyo before later saving from both Justin Kluivert, substitute Luis Sinisterra and, perhaps most impressively, Trent Alexander-Arnold.
While Liverpool will, of course, be hoping Alisson makes a speedy recovery, it is a relief knowing that their defence is in safe hands in his absence.
he awarding of a song by the Anfield faithful is one of the greatest honours that can be bestowed on a player. With that in mind, the fact the Kop could be heard chanting Ryan Gravenberch’s name to the tune of ‘This Girl’ by Kungs vs Cookin’ – the same song once used to revere fellow Dutchman Georginio Wijnaldum – suggests he is held in pretty high regard on Merseyside.
And rightly so. After a mixed debut campaign at Anfield, the midfielder has gone from strength to strength under Arne Slot, excelling in a deeper-lying role and starting all of Liverpool’s six games so far.
It was another fine display from him on Saturday afternoon, with his ability to both drive at the opposition and break up play once again catching the eye. He earned an appreciative cheer for one smart turn that set Liverpool on the attack and played a sublime ball out to Mohamed Salah on the right flank in the second half.
It is, of course, still early days for Gravenberch as a No.6 and there will be far tougher tests to come but the signs are very promising. If goes on to match the Liverpool career of his countryman Wijnaldum, he will have done very well indeed.
