Troy Deeney has cast a critical eye on Caoimhin Kelleher’s situation at Liverpool as the number two goalkeeper.
Nobody is going to deny that Alisson Becker is the undisputed king for Jurgen Klopp, with some suggesting that he is probably the best goalkeeper in the world right now.
But in recent weeks, because of the Brazilian’s injuries, it has seen Caoimhin Kelleher earn more game time than usual in between the sticks for Liverpool.
Although, when it comes to the domestic cup games, the 25-year-old would have started anyway because he is the number one for those matches.
But Caoimhin Kelleher’s performance in the League Cup final win over Chelsea, and now his recent display in the FA Cup against Southampton, has asked the question if he should leave to be number one elsewhere.
Former striker Troy Deeney wasn’t having any of it as he suggested ‘there is a reason why’ Caoimhin Kelleher is number two, as he told Soccer Special on Sky Sports (28/02/24 at 7:25 pm).
The recently-retired footballer explained the task in hand for a keeper who is playing as a back-up compared to one who is in the spotlight all the time.
Should Caoimhin Kelleher play first-team football?
“You can be a good number 2, it doesn’t mean you are going to be a good number one,” said Deeney.
“Being a good number 2 means, you train really well and you are always ready for the opportunity. Being a good number 1 means you have to do all of that, plus be ready every single game and now there is an expectation that you are going to deliver.
“We have all played with number 2’s and 3’s in training and you are thinking ‘Oh my God, this guy is unbelievable’. Gets the odd game here and there.
“Then he goes and plays five games on the bounce because someone’s injured and you go, ‘Oh, that’s why he is a number 2’. I feel, whilst he is doing well, at the moment. We need to be careful that we aren’t pushing him to be this number one because there is a reason why he is number 2.”
Caoimhin Kelleher’s future at Liverpool
Sources have told HITC Football that Celtic are keen on bringing Kelleher to Glasgow in the summer – current number one Joe Hart is going to retire at the end of the season.
At Kelleher’s current age, there is no doubt he should now start to look to be a number one somewhere because he isn’t getting past Alisson.
Whether it’s signing for Celtic, or moving to another Premier League team, you feel he is worthy of that big move.
But the Irishman just might want to wait and see what the new Liverpool manager brings to the table because it could be in his favour.
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