Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher has outlined his targets for the new season with Liverpool as speculation remains over his future plans at Anfield.
The Irish goalkeeper is one of the Premier League’s most prominent second-choice goalkeepers and is considered a player who can start as first-choice for most Premier League sides. With the new Premier League campaign just a few weeks away, speculations are rife over the his future with the Reds, as he seeks regular first-team football.
The Corkman enjoyed by far his busiest campaign last season, making 26 appearances across all competitions, more than his previous four seasons combined, following a series of injuries to Liverpool’s number one, Alisson. However, the chances of him repeating such a feat are slim, given Alison’s form and the fact that the Brazilian still has three years remaining on his contract. So, Kelleher’s best chance of regular starts appears to be away from the Merseyside club.
WHAT KELLEHER SAID BEFORE
In May the 25-year-old, who is now in his tenth year at Anfield suggeted that his years as a number two are coming to an end and hinted at an exit from the club.
“It would be great if that (being first choice) happened at Liverpool, but I’m not silly. I know that Ali has been the best goalkeeper in the world for years,” he said in a May interview with The Athletic.
WHAT KELLEHER IS SAYING NOW
But things seem to have changed for Kelleher since then. Having begun pre-season training under new boss Arne Slot last week, the goalkeeper has now opened up on his targets for the upcoming campaign as Liverpool begins life without Jurgen Klopp.
“(My targets are) similar to last year, really. Obviously I had a lot of games last season, which was really good. So just looking to do the same really and keep the same level of performance as well,” said Kelleher via Irish Independent.
“(Slot) has been excellent so far. There’s a lot of detail to what he wants us to do, and there’s a lot to take on board, but he gets his messages across really well. His sessions are intense, and he pushes us. It has been really enjoyable so far, I must say.
“The bones of the squad is still there and we want to push on. It’s not a rebuild or anything like that; it’s just finding those little extra things that can hopefully push us on and get us over the line to win some more trophies.”
WHAT TOP SIX FOOTBALL THINKS
It is a known fact that Kelleher is a solid goalkeeper, who can command a starting berth in many top teams. He has showed his class severally with Liverpool, and if the Anfield club want to cash in on him, they will get a sizeable transfer fee from him.
From Liverpool’s perspective, it is best to keep Kelleher, whose deal with the Reds expires in 2026, having arrived from Ringmahon Rangers in 2015. But from the player’s perspective, it may be best to seek a move away. However, the grass is not always greener on the other side, and he is not guaranteed to succeed elsewhere.
