Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has ruled out any prospect of selling goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher this summer after his Carabao Cup heroics against Chelsea.
The Reds clinched the Carabao Cup on Sunday, beating Chelsea on penalties after an epic battle at Wembley.
Neither side managed to score in 120 minutes, with four goals disallowed over the course of the game.
In the end, Kepa Arrizabalaga’s skied penalty won it for Liverpool, who saw all 11 players convert their spot kicks.
That includes goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who failed to save a penalty but dispatched his with aplomb.
The Irishman was given the nod over Alisson for Sunday’s final, with Jurgen Klopp sticking with the Irishman.
Kelleher has been Liverpool’s main cup goalkeeper, and Klopp felt it was right to keep him in the side; dropping him for the final would hardly have been fair.
Kelleher kept a clean sheet and then ended up scoring the winning penalty, so you can’t exactly suggest that Klopp’s decision was wrong.
It will likely be back to the bench for Kelleher tonight as Liverpool take on Norwich City in the FA Cup, with Alisson coming back into the side.
This does raise the question of how long Kelleher wants to stay at Liverpool and play second fiddle to Alisson.
Realistically, Kelleher isn’t going to take the Brazilian’s spot any time soon. He could be a first-choice goalkeeper elsewhere, with other Premier League clubs surely interested.
Klopp has now spoken about Kelleher’s future, telling the Mirror that Liverpool have ‘absolutely no intention’ of letting the Irishman leave this summer.
Klopp ruled out a loan or a sale, believing that Liverpool need two quality goalkeepers and Kelleher is perfect having developed ‘incredibly well’ at Anfield.
“For young goalkeepers it’s of course about development, and Caoimh developed here incredibly well,” said Klopp. “There’s absolutely no intention to sell him or something like that or give him a loan. Not at all.”
“We need a strong number two. Winning a trophy, will that help [keep him]? You’ll have to ask Caoimh that,” he added.
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