Caoimhín Kelleher GK Brentford b.1998

[liamoo11]

If a certain other keeper conceeded 4 goals it'd be held up as proof that he's not good enough.

I actually thought he did ok yesterday. I liked the way he commanded his box. He looked assured under crosses too. It was one of the most enjoyable games I've watched in years and I wouldn't really put any blame on Kelleher for the goals

Yeah can't see blame in the goals. The first one was struck from very close range . He made 3 or 4 good saves, stood up well on one on one's and was good under crosses. Read balls over the top well. Liverpool were horribly complacent. Bradley was poor defensively really weak on headers and challenges,

[joey B]

Any game you concede 4 goals is a bad day,you’d apportion more of the blame to the players in front of him than the keeper for me,Liverpool’s defending was shambolic at times,were lucky not conceded more in the first half especially…..

[Razors left peg]

Any game you concede 4 goals is a bad day,you’d apportion more of the blame to the players in front of him than the keeper for me,Liverpool’s defending was shambolic at times,were lucky not conceded more in the first half especially…..

Which is exactly the point a lot of us make about Bazunu quite a bit, he's playing behind an awful defense at Southampton mostly

[Eirambler]

Didn't see the game today - other than the Brighton goal which he had no chance with - but it sounds like another solid 90 minutes in the bank for Kelleher. That's his 23rd appearance of the season in all competitions, just one behind Alisson now. His overall stats aren't quite as impressive as Alisson's, but I can't remember him having any absolute clangers either, and Alisson is certainly prone to a few of those each season. Would be great if he got the month of April in the starting team as well, that would be eight more starts for him, including six in the league.

[liamoo11]

Didn't see the game today - other than the Brighton goal which he had no chance with - but it sounds like another solid 90 minutes in the bank for Kelleher. That's his 23rd appearance of the season in all competitions, just one behind Alisson now. His overall stats aren't quite as impressive as Alisson's, but I can't remember him having any absolute clangers either, and Alisson is certainly prone to a few of those each season. Would be great if he got the month of April in the starting team as well, that would be eight more starts for him, including six in the league.

Good today again. One good save at 2 1. No chancecwith the goal. Calm as always

[joey B]

Comfortable day for him in a game that wasn’t that comfortable for Liverpool,Brighton gave as good as they got up until they had to test the goalkeeper which they didn’t really do due to some wayward finishing ,solid day for Kelleher though…

[tetsujin1979]

1775254087967060041

[Eirambler]

Another good showing tonight. Has played as many games for Liverpool this season as Alisson has now. If Liverpool go on to win the league he'll have played a huge part in it for them.

[ontheotherhand]

Excellent stuff. As much as we've said the GK position isn't an issue for us with 2/3 good options, they still all had questions marks. Looks like Kelleher has removed his now. That's enough games and pressure he's been under to prove his well able for it.

Our obvious #1 now and hopefully he'll find a way to be #1 at club level at Liverpool or elsewhere soon too. Wonder what his ceiling is?

[Jolly Red Giant]

The kid is playing well - and probably does deserve to be No. 1 at this stage.

[Olé Olé]

Excellent stuff. As much as we've said the GK position isn't an issue for us with 2/3 good options, they still all had questions marks. Looks like Kelleher has removed his now. That's enough games and pressure he's been under to prove his well able for it.

Our obvious #1 now and hopefully he'll find a way to be #1 at club level at Liverpool or elsewhere soon too. Wonder what his ceiling is?

I would say Liverpool are licking their lips here. If you are in the market for a keeper in any league, he is an attractive option. He is literally proven at the very top level. And he's got a very attractive skillset. You look back through this thread and there were people questioning whether he would get a Premiership move last summer. He is a compelling option for any side with a need or looking for an upgrade. I don't think any top half Premiership side is looking for a keeper at the moment though. Chelsea probably have the worst keeper in the top half in Roberto Sanchez and Kelleher is looking like he is better than him.

[ontheotherhand]

Or do they cash in on Allison.....

[Jolly Red Giant]

I would say Liverpool are licking their lips here. If you are in the market for a keeper in any league, he is an attractive option. He is literally proven at the very top level. And he's got a very attractive skillset. You look back through this thread and there were people questioning whether he would get a Premiership move last summer. He is a compelling option for any side with a need or looking for an upgrade. I don't think any top half Premiership side is looking for a keeper at the moment though. Chelsea probably have the worst keeper in the top half in Roberto Sanchez and Kelleher is looking like he is better than him.
Kelleher is way better than Sanchez - he was the product of the team around him and is an arrogant sob - Brighton couldn't believe their luck that Chelsea were willing to give them £20m for a player they wanted out the door (on top of the other £200m they forked out to Brighton).

[elatedscum]

Honestly I think Liverpool won’t sell unless there’s a buyback clause. The Saudis tried to buy Alisson last summer and I think a summer 2025 sale is a possibility if they’re still splashing cash in the same way.

I think the question Kelleher has to ask is, does he hang around under the assumption that Alisson will pick up injuries at the same rate he currently is (I think that’s 3 this season) - or does he push for a loan or does he push for a sale?

Everything is so in the air with Liverpool’s summer plans with a new manager, out of contract players (Adrian, Matip, Thiago) and players entering their final year (Van Dijk, Salah, Alexander-Arnold), alongside a very limited amount of non-homegrown spaces.

Specifically in terms of keepers, Jaros is ready to be a third choice keeper, so they can release Adrian but they’ll need to spend to replace Kelleher and given Alisson’s recent injury issues, there’ll certainly be a fear that he’s entered the stage of his career where he can’t stay fit. So they’ll need genuinely quality (as Kelleher has shown this season). Adrian definitely cost them back in 2020 when he played against Atletico Madrid and it knocked them out of the champions league.

Maybe they can buy Bazunu and training in that elite environment can finally iron out pretty apparent holes in his game ;) because there is an excellent keeper in Bazunu with the right coaching and development plan

[seanfhear]

Honestly I think Liverpool won’t sell unless there’s a buyback clause. The Saudis tried to buy Alisson last summer and I think a summer 2025 sale is a possibility if they’re still splashing cash in the same way.

I think the question Kelleher has to ask is, does he hang around under the assumption that Alisson will pick up injuries at the same rate he currently is (I think that’s 3 this season) - or does he push for a loan or does he push for a sale?

Everything is so in the air with Liverpool’s summer plans with a new manager, out of contract players (Adrian, Matip, Thiago) and players entering their final year (Van Dijk, Salah, Alexander-Arnold), alongside a very limited amount of non-homegrown spaces.

Specifically in terms of keepers, Jaros is ready to be a third choice keeper, so they can release Adrian but they’ll need to spend to replace Kelleher and given Alisson’s recent injury issues, there’ll certainly be a fear that he’s entered the stage of his career where he can’t stay fit. So they’ll need genuinely quality (as Kelleher has shown this season). Adrian definitely cost them back in 2020 when he played against Atletico Madrid and it knocked them out of the champions league.

Maybe they can buy Bazunu and training in that elite environment can finally iron out pretty apparent holes in his game ;) because there is an excellent keeper in Bazunu with the right coaching and development planBazunu and Kelleher both at Liverpool ? !

[Eirambler]

You know, Bazunu has played so much football so early in his career, that he's actually one keeper that might benefit from a year or two as a number two at a Champions League level club. I don't think he'd go for it though, he has always been desperate to be a starter and has made loan and permanent moves accordingly.

I'm still a big Bazunu fan and I think his ceiling is massive. But Kelleher has definitely moved ahead of him in terms of the Irish starting spot for now. Unless Alisson is moving on I'd still definitely want to see him move on this summer. The last time he had a half decent run in the team (the time he scored the winning penalty in the Carabao Cup final), he didn't play another game for about eight months afterwards. There's no guarantee Alisson will have another injury any time soon.

[Jd2793]

shot stopping wise i think CK is just a bit off proper world class alisson level. hes not as big and doesnt that that huge presence when someone is baring down 1v1. might sound harsh but if we are talking about liverpool possibly cashing in on alisson i dont think they'd do it for this reason alone. Kelleher has really improved with a run of games though i'll give him that. the reaction save for the only sheff united chance last night was class. I said last summer id have been hoping for an outside chance of someone like spurs getting him but they've a keeper now. Leicester were the ones I thought might take a punt on him. Im not sure there is an obvious PL team that need a new no1? interesting summer ahead anyway. I could definitely see liverpool selling. his value wont be higher than it is now and they apparently value him at 30mil (tabloid talk).

[Diggs246]

I would say the new Liverpool manager will say your staying and that's it
Why would he allow a good 2nd choice to leave, with the knowledge that Allison is injury prone

[Stuttgart88]

the reaction save for the only sheff united chance last night was class. Was that the one in the first minute? I thought the striker was terrible tbh and hit it straight at CK, who didn't even have to move his standing foot to save it. I hear he made a very good save very late in the first half though.

I used to think Alisson was lucky in terms of the sheer number of times the ball would hit his feet. I still kind of think the same of CK, but I also have to concede that when it happens a lot it's obviously not luck at all. The ball used to hit Paul McGrath a lot in his later years.

CK has had at least 6-7 big moments in his recent run of games and he's won almost all of them.

[liamoo11]

shot stopping wise i think CK is just a bit off proper world class alisson level. hes not as big and doesnt that that huge presence when someone is baring down 1v1. might sound harsh but if we are talking about liverpool possibly cashing in on alisson i dont think they'd do it for this reason alone. Kelleher has really improved with a run of games though i'll give him that. the reaction save for the only sheff united chance last night was class. I said last summer id have been hoping for an outside chance of someone like spurs getting him but they've a keeper now. Leicester were the ones I thought might take a punt on him. Im not sure there is an obvious PL team that need a new no1? interesting summer ahead anyway. I could definitely see liverpool selling. his value wont be higher than it is now and they apparently value him at 30mil (tabloid talk).

It will be sad for him when he leaves on the summer with the chances that he will ever be involved in a genuine title challenge like has has been for the last 7 or 8 games with liverpool been pretty slim. In reality thos spell is likely the highlight of his career. 10 years playing in the Premier league for a good level team like Aston villa will never create the magic of this run with liverpool

[ontheotherhand]

It will be sad for him when he leaves on the summer with the chances that he will ever be involved in a genuine title challenge like has has been for the last 7 or 8 games with liverpool been pretty slim. In reality thos spell is likely the highlight of his career. 10 years playing in the Premier league for a good level team like Aston villa will never create the magic of this run with liverpool

Aston Villa might finish ahead of Liverpool in the next season or two and Man City will win this year's English league whenever they decide to.

Maybe that's wrong but it's not unbelievable.

[Jolly Red Giant]

Im not sure there is an obvious PL team that need a new no1?
Neto is 34
Leno could be replaced
Chelsea need a keeper
Palace's keepers been poor enough this season
Raya hasn't been great for Arsenal in my opinion
Brighton are rotating keepers
Leicester and Ipswich could upgrade if promoted

I also think there would be a lot of interest from around Europe

[Diggs246]

Neto is 34
Leno could be replaced
Chelsea need a keeper
Palace's keepers been poor enough this season
Raya hasn't been great for Arsenal in my opinion
Brighton are rotating keepers
Leicester and Ipswich could upgrade if promoted

I also think there would be a lot of interest from around Europe

Absolutely go to Italy CK. Seria A would suit him

[liamoo11]

Aston Villa might finish ahead of Liverpool in the next season or two and Man City will win this year's English league whenever they decide to.

Maybe that's wrong but it's not unbelievable.

Ah yeah but it's unlikely which iscwhat I'm saying. Most likely is he won't be involved in a team involved in a genuine title challenge where every touch he has is analysed and is potentially pivotel in the winning of the Premier league. Who was the last irish player who was pivotel in a team in that situation ?

[ontheotherhand]

Ah yeah but it's unlikely which iscwhat I'm saying. Most likely is he won't be involved in a team involved in a genuine title challenge where every touch he has is analysed and is potentially pivotel in the winning of the Premier league. Who was the last irish player who was pivotel in a team in that situation ?

Ah yeah I get you, it's fantastic to see him involved and it is a title challenge. He probably won't get this again unless Liverpools revamp goes well and includes him or he moves to the next in line. Is he better than Onana?

Last Irish player involved in a title challenge? Matt Doherty at Spurs maybe! :)

Looks like O'Shea/Gibson realistically. (https://www.buzz.ie/sport/title-famine-no-end-sight-31974337)

[SkStu]

Was an unlucky goal to concede. He was obviously in no man’s land but really was where he was supposed to be. Great finish from Bruno and I think Kelleher’d have got a red card if he’d got his hand to it as he almost did.

Did very well with a ball into the corridor of uncertainty quickly after conceding.

[Eirambler]

Another solid 90 for him in a big game. First one was nothing to do with him, just really poor from Quansah, Kelleher had come out for the simple back pass and should have been given it. Second one was a screamer. Made a few smart stops otherwise, but all ones you'd expect him to save.

In general Liverpool have a problem down the right side of their defence, obviously it's caused by injuries but you can really see opposition teams targeting the two young lads in that area now and it may well be what costs them the title if they miss out.

[Stuttgart88]

No chance with the second either although some keepers do sometimes make incredible saves. Footwork is important etc.

[pineapple stu]

Alisson might be back for the Europa League game on Thursday (https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/0410/1442812-key-trio-back-in-frame-for-liverpools-atalanta-clash/).

[Razors left peg]

Alisson might be back for the Europa League game on Thursday (https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/0410/1442812-key-trio-back-in-frame-for-liverpools-atalanta-clash/).

In fairness the run that Kelleher got is enough to prove he can be a number 1. Interesting summer ahead for him now

[pineapple stu]

Yeah, agree with that alright. He's been given a chance and seized it - just needs a bit of luck in the summer now I think.

[liamoo11]

In fairness the run that Kelleher got is enough to prove he can be a number 1. Interesting summer ahead for him now

Allison will need to play European games now to be at his sharpest for league run in which is an awful shame for Kelleher because I think if Allison had not been injured Kelleher woukd have stayed in for the european run.. if he can't get a top 10 club in one of the top 5 leagues this summer then world goalkeeping is in a golden age

[Stuttgart88]

Donnarumma is awful tonight and he’s one of the world’s best. I think there are a lot of very very good keepers - even at Championship level in England - but very few stand out. I was at Fiorentina v Atalanta last week. Atalanta’s keeper Carnesecchi looked excellent. Liverpool play them tomorrow. Atalanta were muck last week, their keeper will be busy I’d say.

[joey B]

Fairly dreadful for Atalanta’s goal there,first big error he’s made for a while…

[Eirambler]

It has struck me that he had done well not to have had an out and out clanger for the whole time he has been in for Alisson...but he has had one now. Being honest, I'm not sure Bazunu has had one as bad as that all season at Southampton.

[Jolly Red Giant]

That was bad

[liamoo11]

That was bad

Awful mistake

[Eirambler]

Not good for the third either. One game too far for him unfortunately.

[Jolly Red Giant]

Not good for the third either. One game too far for him unfortunately.
Yea - spilled it when he should have held it.

Liverpool were bad - the defence really got caught out with all three goals.

[CraftyToePoke]

An evening & an outing to quieten any Kelleherite right there lads. And they are quiet I notice.

[Eirambler]

The best spin you could put on it is that the whole team malfunctioned tonight, and he was part of that rather than being the out and out culprit. But arguably it was a chance for him to step up and keep them in the tie when things were going wrong in front of him, and he didn't get anywhere near to doing that tonight.

[Eirambler]

An evening & an outing to quieten any Kelleherite right there lads. And they are quiet I notice.

They'll go back to touting Roy Keane for the managers job now. Or half of them will anyway. The other half will have to go on Trent Kone-Doherty watch or something!

[texidub]

Not an inspiring all round performance, but at the same time Atlanta would have won 5 - 0 if it wasn't for Kelleher.

[ifk101]

He was poor for goals 1 and 3 but then again, he took a full force shot to the face early on. How’s that not going to affect his performance? Did he even get a medical check?

[Stuttgart88]

Not an inspiring all round performance, but at the same time Atlanta would have won 5 - 0 if it wasn't for Kelleher.He made arguably the best facial save I've ever seen!

I sympathise to a degree. He just got down too slow for the first and didn't get his hands down smartly either, but the fact that the shot wasn't a full body length away from him made it harder. Still poor of course.

It was pointed out to me that the third took a slight deflection. I didn't think so at the time but then I saw it (just), almost simultaneous to the shot. It was directed into the middle of his body when I think he had set himself for a shot a bit further to his right. On another day that'd have stuck and we'd have said it was a solid save.

Atalanta's finish for the second was sweet.

That was actually Atalanta's no. 2 goalkeeper last night too. He did well. Best no. 2 in the world now?!

[jbyrne]

Not good for the third either. One game too far for him unfortunately.

he initially saved well from the 3rd goal. the lad was free 10 yards out. harsh to blame kelleher for the third tbh. seems like he could have done better for the first though.

he cant have been that bad. its a low bar with all players getting less than 5 / 10, but Kelleher comes out 2nd top to Mac Allister on the BBCs fans ratings page.

[texidub]

He made arguably the best facial save I've ever seen!


That was a rough save and I felt bad for Kelleher, but it answered some questions about his courage. Turns out he's not fragile and isn't afraid to get stuck in/put his body in the way. He also got down great in a 1 on 1 when the Atalanta player looked a cert to score. Those 2 critical saves outweigh any mistakes he made.

[osarusan]

First was really poor. I'm not sure if I've mentioned it here before but I do think he has a habit of being too late to get his hands down. His hands tend to fall as his body falls, rarther than him actively extending his hands downwards.

Wouldn't blame him for the third - a close range shot with a slight deflection. Unfortunate that it spilled to the totally unmarked Atalanta player.

[third policeman]

It has struck me that he had done well not to have had an out and out clanger for the whole time he has been in for Alisson...but he has had one now. Being honest, I'm not sure Bazunu has had one as bad as that all season at Southampton.


I think "done well not to have had an out and out clanger" has to be the textbook example of damning with faint praise. Of course Bazunu would have saved both goals, in fact I'm surprised he didn't, he was only 200 miles away.


On a more balanced note, yeah he was at fault for the first, but hardly an out and out clanger. He made two goal saving stops and I wouldn't blame him in any way for the final gpal. The complete absence of a defence was the big problem.

[pineapple stu]

First one's definitely a clanger for me - Stutts is right to note it's not an absolutely straightforward save, but I think he still has to be making it. It's not the fiercest shot that was ever struck, and I think it's always going back the way the keeper is coming from, so it's readable. That said, he has at least a bit of credit built up in the bank, though it's a pity of a way to mar what may be his final appearance for a while.

Don't think Eirambler is correct to say Bazunu hasn't had any howlers as bad - the one v Plymouth springs to mind, or the equaliser away to Watford if you want to compare just letting shots through the keeper's hands.