Klopp claims Liverpool have ‘exceptional’ player who has only played one league game this season

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has welcomed Claudio Taffarel to the club – and praised young goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher in the process.

Liverpool made a surprise move on Tuesday by hiring Brazilian coach Taffarel.

The former Brazil shot-stopper has joined to help Liverpool’s goalkeepers, and already knows Alisson from the Brazil setup.

Formerly of Parma, Atletico Mineiro and Galatasaray in his playing days, Taffarel brings a wealth of experience.

Liverpool boss Klopp has told the club’s official website that he loves the goalkeepers he has and wants even more of them under Taffarel’s tutelage.

Klopp of course hailed Alisson, but he was effuse with his praise of Kelleher.

Klopp called Kelleher ‘exceptional, exceptional’, and the order in which he named his goalkeepers made it clear that Kelleher is second choice behind Alisson.

“In terms of goalkeepers, it means we have Alisson Becker, who for us is the best goalie in the world. We have Caoimhin Kelleher, who we really think is an exceptional, exceptional player. We have Adrian, who has shown his qualities since he arrived here. Then we have Marcelo Pitaluga, then we have Harvey Davies, so we have five goalies in different age groups, which is great but we want to have even more of these guys,” said Klopp.

Kelleher has only played one Premier League game this season, filling for Alisson against Watford in October.

The Irishman is 23 and may need first-team football, but he is stuck in a difficult situation.

Klopp and Liverpool clearly love Kelleher and won’t want to lose him, but he also isn’t going to displace Alisson any time soon.

The next 18 months will be key for Kelleher, as if he reaches the summer of 2023 and still isn’t playing regularly, he may well look to leave Liverpool for first-team action.