Caoimhín Kelleher GK Brentford b.1998

[seanfhear]

He clearly needs first team football.
Even the blind-folded kid can see that.

[Jd2793]

Caoimhin Kelleher (https://www.thisisanfield.com/tag/caoimhin-kelleher/) (6.9) earned the highest overall rating at the Etihad, as he again proved to be an able deputy to Alisson (https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/alisson/).
The Irishman was highly impressive between the sticks, making three important saves and doing nothing wrong all evening.
TIA’s Henry Jackson said it was an “assured” performance by Kelleher, adding that his handling was “immaculate.”
Meanwhile, the Echo‘s Ian Doyle highlighted the “good saves” made by the youngster, even though he was “almost caught out” in the first minute.

sounds like he did well last night. did anyone watch?

[third policeman]

Yeah, he was confident and authoritative. Three or good saves and one excellent one at the feet of Man City attacker (can't remember who). Handling and distribution were very assured. I know people will say he should be playing more and move away, and that's a fair point. But for us, the issue is whether his bench warming makes him a risk for selection? The answer, on the all the available evidence, is a categorical no! At the risk of infuriating the Bazunu lobby, he looks more assured, composed and mature despite playing far fewer senior games.

[Jd2793]

Yeah, he was confident and authoritative. Three or good saves and one excellent one at the feet of Man City attacker (can't remember who). Handling and distribution were very assured. I know people will say he should be playing more and move away, and that's a fair point. But for us, the issue is whether his bench warming makes him a risk for selection? The answer, on the all the available evidence, is a categorical no! At the risk of infuriating the Bazunu lobby, he looks more assured, composed and mature despite playing far fewer senior games.

i agree. i think what hes done upto now staying at lpool has been justified. a permanent move in summer would be ideal. im definitely in the CK camp when it comes to ireland no1 though. i can see why hes not started given bazunu is a starter at PL level.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

I think Kelleher has moved into poll position for Ireland number 1.

[tommy_c12000]

He’s the wisest anyways, can’t make mistakes if he stays on the bench!

Did well in league cup. Always looks assured. Did make some mistakes during the World Cup break during the friendlies mind you, so remains to be determined where he will ultimately land. Looks good though

[Jd2793]

I think Kelleher has moved into poll position for Ireland number 1.

yep and i suspect SK will be happy to put him in too. always felt CK was kennys no.1

[Stuttgart88]

Yeah, he was confident and authoritative. Three or good saves and one excellent one at the feet of Man City attacker (can't remember who). Handling and distribution were very assured. I know people will say he should be playing more and move away, and that's a fair point. But for us, the issue is whether his bench warming makes him a risk for selection? The answer, on the all the available evidence, is a categorical no! At the risk of infuriating the Bazunu lobby, he looks more assured, composed and mature despite playing far fewer senior games.Each has risks. Match-rusty or short on confidence? If we were playing next week I'd pick Kelleher. I said it here last season, Kelleher now looks like he feels he belongs at the top level whereas two seasons ago I think he looked more afraid of messing up. I'd say deep down Bazunu feels confident about his ability but in the moment he's more afraid than confident.

Sometimes an international break can do a player good though. A change in setting, different personnel etc means you can leave some club baggage behind you. You see it often enough. In the 90s I played for both our Saturday team (AUL) and our Sunday team (LSL). Often I'd have a poor run of form for one while playing well for the other. Mad how the mind works. I felt my Saturday player manager / captain trusted me more than my Sunday captain and it was that simple. If I felt I had the confidence of my CBs and the captain then I'd play better, if I felt I was losing it I'd play worse. OK, that's just a sample of one but I'd be surprised if better goalkeepers than me didn't exhibit the same.

I'm not sure if I posted it on footdot (I tweeted it) but I saw a great quote from Modric about Croatia keeper Livakovic who had a great WC, not just from the pens but in open play too. Livakovic was on a poor run of form heading into the WC and was in danger of losing his place. Modric told him the team thought he was really good but he looked like a keeper afraid of making a mistake. He said the team expects him to make mistakes, that's part of a GK's life. But the fear of making mistakes, his nervousness, was affecting the team. From that point on he played much better.

And if you excuse me a little more self-indulgence I also remember what a teammate said to me in the early 90s after handling backpasses was outlawed. I was generally fine with backpasses. I wouldn't take a fancy first touch and play short passes unless it was very safe to do so but I never messed up either, usually getting a good connection to send the ball upfield. Job done. But my full back said to me in training one time "back passes needn't be anathema". Until then it had never crossed my mind that I had a problem with backpasses but you can guess what happened after that. Slices into touch, kicks upfield missing target by a mile...!

Anyway, in short, Kelleher over Bazunu if there was a match next week and maybe Bazunu will feel less under scrutiny in Dublin than for his club.

Also, I read on Twitter that Bazunu has a very good high ball claim rate and a few other good metrics, and some player assessment algorithm has rated him the second most valuable young keeper in world football. I read the methodology though and it was a bit suspect, but overall the message was his high level game time is really important.

[tommy_c12000]

Was expected to be fit today, and Adrian selected ahead of him on the bench. Move in January imminent or injured again?

[elatedscum]

Could well be illness, a few squad members who were expected to br in the squad are missing:

Kelleher
Fabinho
Phillips

And they had players miss the city game and the Villa game with illness as well.

Otherwise must be injury. Unless they’re giving Adrian a chance to say goodbye. No chance Kelleher leaves before summer. Liverpool are chasing a midfielder and if it’s a non-FA academy player (like Amrabat), they need to get rid of a non-FA academy player. Lots of rumours Adrian is going to depart this window as a result (other likelihood is that Arthur Melo’s loan is cut short but that’s complicated). Kelleher being one of their homegrown players means definitely won’t depart this season

[ifk101]

Seems Allison is starting tonight.

[JR89]

That's no surprise as last season Kelleher was benched when they met the first PL team in the cup only playing against Shrewsbury and Cardiff. Unless Allison gets injured his season was over once they were knocked out of the EFL cup.

[elatedscum]

Wild mistake from Alisson. Klopp probably should have played Kelleher

[passinginterest]

Could argue Alisson was poor for the second Wolves goal too.

[Eirambler]

Don't think there's much argument about it.

Not a great situation for Liverpool I would suggest, having a keeper who knows he is undroppable, gets to hand pick his own goalkeeping coach etc. Somewhere else you might see a keeper rotated out for a few games as a wake up call for him, but no prospect of that here.

[third policeman]

Don't think there's much argument about it.

Not a great situation for Liverpool I would suggest, having a keeper who knows he is undroppable, gets to hand pick his own goalkeeping coach etc. Somewhere else you might see a keeper rotated out for a few games as a wake up call for him, but no prospect of that here.

Maybe Klopp will be brave and pick Kelleher for the replay?

[pineapple stu]

Klopp must be reading here! He does start; they're 1-0 up with 20 to go, though Wolves haven't had a shot on target as yet.

[seanfhear]

Klopp must be reading here! He does start; they're 1-0 up with 20 to go, though Wolves haven't had a shot on target as yet.Great Goal-keeping (wink)

[Eirambler]

He was certainly a lot more solid than Alisson in the drawn game anyway. Might that be enough to get him another run out against Brighton in the next round?

That's his 20th senior appearance for Liverpool tonight. Ben Doak, who is a full seven years younger than him already has five.

[Stuttgart88]

Had so little to do but looked very composed doing it!

[Jd2793]

quite a few PL clubs will be looking for a GK in the summer, great time for CK to look for a move. If spurs get rid of conte it wouldnt surprise me all that much if a younger manager came in along with kelleher. wolves + leicester more realistic atm though provided neither go down. its all about timing as they say...

[Snapshot]

If Liverpool believed Kelleher was elite would it not be in their interest to sell Alisson, who's 30 and often touted as the world's best goalkeeper for a huge fee, and let our lad step up? I think Kloop, like many of us, has his doubts about Kelleher.

[pineapple stu]

Alisson seems to be the one holding Liverpool's season together going off various goalkeeper stats. And it's a pretty crap season. I don't see how it can be in their interests to sell their best performing player when they're in a desperate struggle to even make Europe.

[JR89]

If Liverpool believed Kelleher was elite would it not be in their interest to sell Alisson, who's 30 and often touted as the world's best goalkeeper for a huge fee, and let our lad step up? I think Kloop, like many of us, has his doubts about Kelleher.

Sell one of if not the best keeper in the world to play a kid with 20 senior appearances for Liverpool? Don't think Klopp has doubts it's just he knows it would be an idiotic thing to do.

[Snapshot]

Sell one of if not the best keeper in the world to play a kid with 20 senior appearances for Liverpool? Don't think Klopp has doubts it's just he knows it would be an idiotic thing to do.

At what age will 24-year-old Kelleher not be a kid?

[Eirambler]

24 is probably the last age that players are considered young in football. The first batch of decent under 21s we produced for a long time, the group Kenny managed, start turning 25 this year. So not kids for much longer.

[pineapple stu]

I think you can take it though that even if Kelleher's not a kid any more, that doesn't mean you turf out Alisson and start Kelleher. And not doing that doesn't mean Klopp doesn't trust Kelleher.

[seanfhear]

24 is probably the last age that players are considered young in football. The first batch of decent under 21s we produced for a long time, the group Kenny managed, start turning 25 this year. So not kids for much longer.
Not kids any longer ~ ~ Has society become that infantalised that People are calling Men aged 24 ~ Kids ?

[seanfhear]

Shirley ~ Kelleher has to go out on loan next season if Allison stays fit / performing and at Liverpool ?

[Stuttgart88]

I read (@indykaila on twitter so probably based on nothing whatsoever) that Liverpool say he can leave if his £25-30m valuation is met.

The frustrating thing is we still can't take a proper view on just how good he is. Well I can't anyway. His best bits have been really good (Hungary friendly, League Cup Final...), some less impressive bits - normal in a goalkeeper -, but what's he like week in / week out?

[Jd2793]

Why would pool turf out the best gk in the world for CK? some nonsense god almighty. as for looking for a loan this summer, it doesnt really benefit liverpool at this point so it looks like a non runner. selling is the only option imo. the pl market will be open enough for a first choice gks this summer, he'll garner plenty of interest.

[tetsujin1979]

I read (@indykaila on twitter so probably based on nothing whatsoever) that Liverpool say he can leave if his £25-30m valuation is met.

The frustrating thing is we still can't take a proper view on just how good he is. Well I can't anyway. His best bits have been really good (Hungary friendly, League Cup Final...), some less impressive bits - normal in a goalkeeper -, but what's he like week in / week out?

That tweet is where a lot of the speculation started from. It got picked up by a few of the ireland fan accounts, and some of them have deleted their posts since then
That says a lot, IMO

[JR89]

At what age will 24-year-old Kelleher not be a kid?

Kid, rookie, inexperienced, call it what you want but the lad has less games played for Liverpool than Gavin Bazunu has for Southampton.

But it could be in Liverpool's best interest to sell the best keeper in the world to make Kelleher their new number one.

[ColourfulPeanut]

£30mil would make Kelleher the 7th most expensive keeper of all time. They're not getting that much.

Ramsdale moved to Arsenal for €28mil. He's the same age, is English and played almost 10 times the amount of Premier League games than Kelleher by the time he turned 22.

[joey B]

Can only see Liverpool selling him at this point,I follow Liverpool and Allison has been their best player this season,CK isn’t going to displace him but is good enough to start elsewhere for me,the club will be looking to raise funds this summer for the midfield so hopefully he’ll get a good move to a club where he’ll start regularly….

[seanfhear]

£30mil would make Kelleher the 7th most expensive keeper of all time. They're not getting that much.

Ramsdale moved to Arsenal for €28mil. He's the same age, is English and played almost 10 times the amount of Premier League games than Kelleher by the time he turned 22.
This post is a dose of realism.

[Jd2793]

CK will go for 15-20 mil. 4 or 5 pl clubs will need no1 in the summer + is HG status is valuable. Ramsdale would have went for double if Sheff U stayed up, they had little to no leverage as a championship club.

[nigel-harps1954]

They'll do well to get £10-15m for a largely inexperienced and untested goalkeeper, at any level. 20 senior appearances for a 24 year old is abysmal.

He's a good goalkeeper, but will rue not having got a loan spell somewhere.

[Jd2793]

They'll do well to get £10-15m for a largely inexperienced and untested goalkeeper, at any level. 20 senior appearances for a 24 year old is abysmal.

He's a good goalkeeper, but will rue not having got a loan spell somewhere.

id say he rues not going out to mk dons or plymouth instead of deputising for the best keeper in the world + being a part of one of the best clubs teams of the past 5 years.

[nigel-harps1954]

id say he rues not going out to mk dons or plymouth instead of deputising for the best keeper in the world + being a part of one of the best clubs teams of the past 5 years.

Does that give him more appearances?

If he'd gone out earlier he'd have had more of a chance of being a number one elsewhere, and being Ireland number one, as the current Ireland number one has done.

Rather than being backup to one of the best goalkeepers in the world at one of the best clubs in the world, he decided he actually wants to play football. Funny that.

[Snapshot]

Sell one of if not the best keeper in the world to play a kid with 20 senior appearances for Liverpool? Don't think Klopp has doubts it's just he knows it would be an idiotic thing to do.


Kid, rookie, inexperienced, call it what you want but the lad has less games played for Liverpool than Gavin Bazunu has for Southampton.

But it could be in Liverpool's best interest to sell the best keeper in the world to make Kelleher their new number one.

Yes, if Klopp considered Kelleher elite as you indicated he does. My opinion is irrelevant but if you're dying to know - I wouldn't pay a penny beyond £8 million (pre add-ons). He's unproven on a week-to-week EPL basis. I have watched a few games with hardcore Liverpool fans and it's hearts-in-mouths time any time the ball is near Kelleher. It's called Karius Syndrome. But then again I wouldn't have paid circa £15m for Bazunu either - and most Southampton fans, from what I gather on forums, would agree with me.

[ColourfulPeanut]

CK will go for 15-20 mil. 4 or 5 pl clubs will need no1 in the summer + is HG status is valuable. Ramsdale would have went for double if Sheff U stayed up, they had little to no leverage as a championship club.
If Ramsdale had moved for double he would have been the 3rd most expensive goalkeeper of all time. His fee was fair, if not a bit excessive. Keepers don't typically move for massive money unless they're young and already proven at a high level.

Some Irish fans need to get a grip with Caoimhin. He's completely unproven and untested. Premier League teams don't care if he's fetched the balls for Alisson for the past 5 years or if he's won a handful of medals, mainly from the bench. He's played 30 mens competetive football matches and he'll turn 25 before the year is out. The majority of those matches were with a Liverpool team who are world class, play a high defensive line and don't get pressed high. There is 0 guarantee he will kick on with another club and prove his potential.

We have no idea how good he is or how good he will be but his career stagnation is approaching critical level. Ramsdale is an interesting parallel to both our keepers. His career path has almost matched Bazunu's to a tee so far but is the same age as Kelleher. At 20 Ramsdale was on loan at AFC Wimbledon then played 37 Premier League games the next year. He spent 2 years at Premier League strugglers taking his lumps before getting a big move.

[JR89]

Yes, if Klopp considered Kelleher elite as you indicated he does. My opinion is irrelevant but if you're dying to know - I wouldn't pay a penny beyond £8 million (pre add-ons). He's unproven on a week-to-week EPL basis. I have watched a few games with hardcore Liverpool fans and it's hearts-in-mouths time any time the ball is near Kelleher. It's called Karius Syndrome. But then again I wouldn't have paid circa £15m for Bazunu either - and most Southampton fans, from what I gather on forums, would agree with me.

Where did I say Klopp thinks Kelleher is elite. Said I doubt he has doubts about Kelleher because otherwise he wouldn't be the number two with his lack of experience at one of the best clubs the last few seasons. He's a good number two for Liverpool and could make it as a Premier League keeper but Alisson is the best keeper in the world.

[third policeman]

Yes, if Klopp considered Kelleher elite as you indicated he does. My opinion is irrelevant but if you're dying to know - I wouldn't pay a penny beyond £8 million (pre add-ons). He's unproven on a week-to-week EPL basis. I have watched a few games with hardcore Liverpool fans and it's hearts-in-mouths time any time the ball is near Kelleher. It's called Karius Syndrome. But then again I wouldn't have paid circa £15m for Bazunu either - and most Southampton fans, from what I gather on forums, would agree with me.

Sorry but as a Liverpool fan I’m not hearing anybody making heart in the mouth comments. I was talking today to a contributor to The Anfield Wrap who seriously entertained the option of selling Allison, as he’s that impressed with Kelleher. Actually focussed on his calmness and confidence taking the high ball between two Wolves defenders in the week. The Karius comment is something I’ve simply not heard from anyone and is actually borderline ludicrous.

[ontheotherhand]

Bit of balance needed here maybe? I've been in favour of Kelleher moving for game time for a long while now but he isn't completely untested. He hasn't been put through the ringer yet like Bazunu has but he's played in some competitive games and done well. Completely fair to say he's been behind a strong team that doesn't cough up the amount of chances he will face with Ireland but there's merit in him playing with good players and learning how to operate with proper trust just as there's problems with Bazunu playing with poor players in front of him. There's also value in Bazunu facing all these randomly coughed up chances but you need confidence and it's hard to develop that if you're under fire from all angles. Not speaking as a goalkeeper or a coach of course. Just what I would think.

At the moment, I think Kelleher should play one of the upcoming friendlies, preferably the France one so he gets tested. Bazunu is going through a ropey patch right now so it's absolutely fine to look at our best other option. If Kelleher does well it would also possibly help him get the move he needs. Having the two lads properly fighting for the Irish jersey would be great. I question Kelleher's ambition a little bit but he's making the right sounds now about a move at least. It's definitely time at this point. I don't think anyone disagrees there.

[irishfan86]

The only friendly we have coming up is Latvia, just before France (that's not a friendly, it's a Euro qualifier). I don't mind Kelleher starting it and Bazunu take the French game, but at the same time perhaps Kenny will treat it as a warm up so Bazunu can build chemistry ahead of the competitive game that comes only a few days later.

[pineapple stu]

The France game isn't a friendly! Although I think we're on a hiding to nothing in that one anyway, so maybe it may as well be a friendly.

I'd have Kelleher as our number 1 at present fwiw. I think he's done well enough in enough big games to show he's Premier Division quality (even if that's just mid-table, and Stutts' comments about how he fares week-in-week-out are valid of course). I don't think Bazunu is there yet, as this season is showing (and I'm counting the Armenia game in that too)

[ontheotherhand]

Thanks for the correction. Not sure how I thought it was a friendly. One friendly leading into to a major tournament just seems strange.

In that case......I've no idea what I'd do. Whoever plays against Latvia should play against France for continuity so I'd stick with Bazunu most likely but he looks shook at the moment.

[ontheotherhand]

The France game isn't a friendly! Although I think we're on a hiding to nothing in that one anyway, so maybe it may as well be a friendly.

I'd have Kelleher as our number 1 at present fwiw. I think he's done well enough in enough big games to show he's Premier Division quality (even if that's just mid-table, and Stutts' comments about how he fares week-in-week-out are valid of course). I don't think Bazunu is there yet, as this season is showing (and I'm counting the Armenia game in that too)

I'll level with you stu - there's been drink involved here.

I've always thought the same as the bit in bold but there's an argument that says he doesn't need to do it week in week out for Ireland as well I suppose. He seems capable when called upon. I'd just like to see him play more so he achieves his highest potential.

[EAFC_rdfl]

id say he rues not going out to mk dons or plymouth instead of deputising for the best keeper in the world + being a part of one of the best clubs teams of the past 5 years.
Cheer up, yous still have a chance at finishing 5th