Caoimhín Kelleher GK Brentford b.1998

[mypost]

Jonathan Pearce on DAZN went with Quiveen

Imagine how the Arab, Latin, Japanese, and Eastern European networks who show Liverpool games, pronounce it?

[Bielsa´s irish]

World class but cant get in ahead of Fabianski. Do you wake up every morning and try to come up with the most nonsensical thing you can write on the internet today?

ask the manager about that. Randolph is a great gk miles better than fabianski,

[ColourfulPeanut]

ask the manager about that. Randolph is a great gk miles better than fabianski,
I'm glad you know better than the manager who has decades of experience at the top level and who works with both of them every day in training. You should give him a shout and let him know that he's miles better.

[Colbert Report]

Unfortunate to give away a penalty and get booked tonight against FC Midtjylland. Guessed the right way but conceded anyway. 1-1 now.

[Eirambler]

Played well once again. Wouldn't be too harsh on him over the penalty - his defence left him very exposed. Looked commanding throughout the game and the ball playing side of his game was as good as ever.

[tommy_c12000]

Yes, a 3rd assured performance in a row. Alisson on track to return this weekend. Hopefully Kelleher will get a run again soon

[Eirambler]

The problem now is that it doesn't seem as though Klopp has enough confidence in Adrian to allow Kelleher to go on loan. But, if Alisson stays fit, Kelleher could be restricted to just one or two more appearances for the rest of the season, which wouldn't be good for his development.

Possibly he will have to tough it out as number 2 with limited appearances this season. Then for next season Liverpool might sign another experienced keeper to allow him to get a full season or longer of first team football at a high level on loan, similar to what Manchester United have done with Dean Henderson.

[jbyrne]

i see he gets motm on bbc sport website again tonight.
didnt see the game but heard there was at least one excellent save near the end

[Colbert Report]

It was great save, his reaction time was good.

[seanfhear]

In these difficult times a 20 year old Goalkeeper for one of the big clubs is good copy !

[Olé Olé]

One goal conceded in three games. None from play. Coupled with instances of high level distribution. His time in the team can't have gone too much better.

As Eirambler sets out, he's probably played himself into being nailed on number 2. That's great and all for him as a young keeper at the best club in the world at present. Doesn't help Ireland too much though, I don't think. I feel it would be a brave call for Kenny to decide that Randolph has been usurped here now. A small sample size of matches and the likelihood off infrequent or seldom game time for the rest of the season makes it, in my view, very difficult to pick Kelleher.

That said, Randolph is playing as seldomly. The difference is the bank of experience at club and international level he has.

It would be a bold call for Kenny to make. As I've said before , it wouldn't come without a lot of risk and therein lies the challenge. The upside is better distribution from the goalkeeper. Shot stopping appears to be not too dissimilar. Is Kelleher assured enough in the air? And the biggest factor is the known unknown here i.e. what is the likelihood of things going badly for Kelleher and if badly, how badly? Based on what we have seen on Randolph and his time in goals, the likelihood of things going badly is low.

For anyone that has read Nassim Taleb, I think this provides ample opportunity to apply his principles- Kelleher is fragile, Randolph is robust but neither is antifragile.

[ifk101]

I don't rate Kelleher at all. And the "issues" apparent in his previous league cup/ U21 games are still evident. He positional awareness is suspect (see the Liverpool goal line clearance midway in the first half as an example) and he has a tendency to catch high balls in the upper chest instead of catching them at the height of his reach. There is flapping at crosses/ balls across his body, and there is just an overall lack of presence about him. On the plus side, he does looks good with the ball at his feet (off both feet as well) but you'd expect that from an outfield player playing in goals. :-)

Randolph has been shaky recently but remains the best goalie available to us. I'd be looking at Westwood (now that he seems to be back at club level) as the option to Randolph.

[kennedmc]

This is very harsh and unbalanced. He's a young goalkeeper so he's going to make some mistakes. You point out some errors in his keeping but ignore the good saves and strong decisions he has made in his goalkeeping (And I'm not talking just about his ability in the ball).

I'm not saying he's going to be a world class keeper but he's just turned 22, getting game time at one of the top 4 clubs in world football and performing well. I'm hopeful he has the raw materials and temperament to be a decent international / tier 1 league keeper going forward

[ifk101]

He had relatively quiet nights against Ajax and Wolves. Last night he had more to do. He has made saves in all three games when called upon. The penalty decision last night was harsh on him imo - and it took a really good strike of the ball to beat him. Hopefully he does turn out to be a top goalkeeper because we need him to do so. I just don't see it.

[passinginterest]

Considering he was so prolific as a goal scorer in his schoolboy days we might be able to throw him up front for the last ten minutes of a few games, like Liverpool did with David James a couple of times (Edit: I believe it was at Man City and only once he was thrown up front). Could be the solution to our playing out from the back issues and our goal scoring issues :)

[BonnieShels]

I don't rate Kelleher at all. And the "issues" apparent in his previous league cup/ U21 games are still evident. He positional awareness is suspect (see the Liverpool goal line clearance midway in the first half as an example) and he has a tendency to catch high balls in the upper chest instead of catching them at the height of his reach. There is flapping at crosses/ balls across his body, and there is just an overall lack of presence about him. On the plus side, he does looks good with the ball at his feet (off both feet as well) but you'd expect that from an outfield player playing in goals. :-)

Randolph has been shaky recently but remains the best goalie available to us. I'd be looking at Westwood (now that he seems to be back at club level) as the option to Randolph.

Ah cmon, Westwood? Surely that ship has sailed. He wouldn't even play for us when he was generally available.

I'd be bringing back Given at that rate.

[Eirambler]

Gets the FA Cup start tonight as expected. No harm that it's Villa's under 23s that they're playing as he needs Liverpool to go on a cup run to get games as he won't start League or European matches unless Alisson gets injured or suspended.

No sign of Tyriek Wright for Villa unfortunately.

[nigel-harps1954]

Louie Barry up front for Villa. He was involved with Ireland at one stage wasn't he?

[tetsujin1979]

Yeah, was in the under 16s. Has played for England U16, U17, and U18s since then though

[nigel-harps1954]

Might be a bit harsh, but I think Kelleher should have been closing down Barry quicker there. Was a bit too static and invited the shot from closer than it needed to be.

[DCWA]

Might be a bit harsh, but I think Kelleher should have been closing down Barry quicker there. Was a bit too static and invited the shot from closer than it needed to be.

More than a bit imo. EDIT: harsh that is, not static

[nigel-harps1954]

More than a bit imo. EDIT: harsh that is, not static

Having seen other angles, I definitely think he didn't cover himself in glory.

Slow coming off the line, didn't narrow down the angle, and didn't spread himself, allowing Barry effectively the whole goal to aim for.

1347647557128908803

[pineapple stu]

Very hard to criticise the keeper when the forward has a free run at goal from half-way in fairness.

If you come out too far, you just get lobbed.

[Diggs246]

Very hard to criticise the keeper when the forward has a free run at goal from half-way in fairness.

If you come out too far, you just get lobbed.
Yep correct

[Eirambler]

I don't think Kelleher will have gained much from the run out tonight. I wouldn't be too critical of him for the goal, he was completely exposed by his defence. The only positive is he should get another start in a few weeks time.

[nigel-harps1954]

Very hard to criticise the keeper when the forward has a free run at goal from half-way in fairness.

If you come out too far, you just get lobbed.

Absolutely, and I have been on the receiving end of it myself on occasion. But, I'm not suggesting he should have been sprinting out of goal immediately. He stopped dead on the penalty spot instead of charging from the minute Barry got to the edge of the box. He edges out, and then stops, leaving Barry plenty of time to get his shot away comfortably.

To be honest, the way he didn't spread himself at all is what gets me more though. Didn't make himself big, didn't narrow the angles.

https://i.imgur.com/RfPlcvI.jpg

[DCWA]

He’s clearly trying to prevent Barry from sliding it under / through him and trusting his reflexes to give him a sniff of saving anything attempted round him.

He does nothing wrong there.

[Trequartista20]

Very harsh to blame Kelleher here.

[elatedscum]

Personally, Don’t think you can blame Kelleher at all there.

[irishfan86]

I want Kelleher to succeed but have been critical of him when appropriate. I think it’s exceedingly harsh to put the blame for that goal on him.

[nigel-harps1954]

For the record, I'm not blaming him for the goal, atrocious defending done that to him, but just think he could have been doing better to spread himself more.

[John83]

Meh. I can't comment on whether the criticism is correct; I'd guess it's a highly technical judgement with only a small impact on the goal chance. If it is considered the wrong thing, he'll have relevant drills in coaching all week. This is not a concern.

Klopp will be much more focused on his defensive options - the injuries to Gomez and van Dijk have left him very short there, and he started that match with a midfielder and a 19 year old in centre half. I guess he'll take a 4-1 win all day long anyway.

[tommy_c12000]

Surprised at goal criticism. There is nothing more he could have done, excellent finish by Barry. Had nothing to do other than that. I still strongly favor a loan move with a 24 hour call back clause a la Mark Travers. This would optimize his match experience while enabling him to cover Alisson if he gets injured.

[mypost]

One goal conceded in three games. None from play. Coupled with instances of high level distribution. His time in the team can't have gone too much better.

As Eirambler sets out, he's probably played himself into being nailed on number 2. That's great and all for him as a young keeper at the best club in the world at present. Doesn't help Ireland too much though, I don't think. I feel it would be a brave call for Kenny to decide that Randolph has been usurped here now. A small sample size of matches and the likelihood off infrequent or seldom game time for the rest of the season makes it, in my view, very difficult to pick Kelleher.

That said, Randolph is playing as seldomly. The difference is the bank of experience at club and international level he has.

It would be a bold call for Kenny to make. As I've said before , it wouldn't come without a lot of risk and therein lies the challenge. The upside is better distribution from the goalkeeper. Shot stopping appears to be not too dissimilar. Is Kelleher assured enough in the air? And the biggest factor is the known unknown here i.e. what is the likelihood of things going badly for Kelleher and if badly, how badly? Based on what we have seen on Randolph and his time in goals, the likelihood of things going badly is low.

Kenny is going to have to make a lot of calls in the next campaign, that means introducing a lot of new players, that are comfortable with his tactics and gameplan. Kelleher is one of them and even if he is No. 2 at Liverpool, he should have no problem being No. 1 for Ireland. He's playing more games at club level, he knows what Kenny wants and he's also able to do it. If he's good enough for Klopp, he's more than good enough for Kenny.

[seanfhear]

Kenny is going to have to make a lot of calls in the next campaign, that means introducing a lot of new players, that are comfortable with his tactics and gameplan. Kelleher is one of them and even if he is No. 2 at Liverpool, he should have no problem being No. 1 for Ireland. He's playing more games at club level, he knows what Kenny wants and he's also able to do it. If he's good enough for Klopp, he's more than good enough for Kenny.
Just saying ~ He doesn’t have the same back catalogue as Randolph doing the traditional Goalie stuff.

It would be an interesting experiment but of course Kenny could also lose Randolph if he took putting in this young goalkeeper before him in the wrong way !

[brine3]

Darren Randolph not that type of guy.

[irishfan86]

My view is that Randolph has earned the right to lose the jersey, and that Kelleher’s performances at club level have been promising but that he is still largely unproven. We start with Randolph.

Injuries, COVID, or a Randolph error may lead to a Kelleher start, but unless Kelleher is somehow regularly starting at Premier League level, it’s Randolph’s shirt for the 2022 qualifying campaign in my view.

[tetsujin1979]

Agreed, but I'd still like to see him make his debut in March, against either Luxembourg or Qatar

[mypost]

My view is that Randolph has earned the right to lose the jersey, and that Kelleher’s performances at club level have been promising but that he is still largely unproven. We start with Randolph.

Injuries, COVID, or a Randolph error may lead to a Kelleher start, but unless Kelleher is somehow regularly starting at Premier League level, it’s Randolph’s shirt for the 2022 qualifying campaign in my view.

Kenny has a rebuilding job to do. That means a radical overhaul of the squad asap. Randolph has played 9 games under Kenny. We've lost 4 of them, and he was directly responsible for the result in Finland. He also can't get his game ahead of a poor, error prone keeper at club level. That is not enough for him to start for Ireland.

[irishfan86]

Agreed, but I'd still like to see him make his debut in March, against either Luxembourg or Qatar

I'm with you there. I have no objection to playing Kelleher and other young/inexperienced/fringe players against Qatar and in fact we should be using that game for experimentation.

[kennedmc]

Rumours on Twitter Alisson is out injured for tonight, so could be another chance for Kelleher.....not confirmed yet

[tetsujin1979]

Starts in goal against Brighton
1357045014182813696

[passinginterest]

Couple of decent saves this half. Nothing he could really do about the goal. Maybe a tiny bit flat footed and too close to his near post if being ultra critical.

[Eirambler]

Thought he looked really solid. Apart from the saves, which were all ones you'd expect him to make, he was sharp off his line once or twice to make important interceptions. Blameless for the goal. Would definitely want to see him start against Qatar at a minimum. Would probably still just about lean towards the experience of Randolph for the two qualifiers assuming he is fit, but Kelleher does seem to enhance his reputation with every game he plays this season.

[irishfan86]

A solid outing. Would be incredibly harsh to blame him for the goal. Another positive step in his development.

[DCWA]

Solid outing. Not at all at fault for the goal.

What a I like is that apart from saves, which were expected shot stops he looks very composed and he gets his decisions right.

I must say again I believe he is our #1 already and will be so for some time.

[Colbert Report]

Not in the matchday squad today against Manchester City. Is he injured? Ill?

[Olé Olé]

He was injured.

Alisson was absolutely disgraceful for two of City's goals. Kelleher will surely get a game or two in the league or a cup as a result.

[Eirambler]

Alisson had a shocker today but I don't think it will have any real impact for Kelleher to be honest. They're not really competing for the starting spot as such, Alisson is always the first choice when required and one bad game won't change that, albeit he could hardly have picked a worse game to do what he did.

Hopefully though, if Kelleher does have a bad game at some point for us or for Liverpool, we'll remember that it happens even to the best keepers.

[Olé Olé]

I said he might get a league game or a cup game. My point being that he might get a game or two that Klopp wouldn't have given him otherwise. They have a couple of Champions league games coming up. There's an opportunity to give Alisson a rest and those mistakes might make it a little easier for Klopp to provide Alisson with that rest and Kelleher with those minutes.

I was not implying that Kelleher would become the first choice and starter. Not sure how you managed to reach for that.