Sunday will be a very important opportunity for Caoimhín Kelleher because, at the age of 25, he will make his 12th Premier League appearance for Liverpool, with whom Manchester City will have a vital fight in the title race, and will leave behind 11 international caps for the Republic of Ireland.
Being a second-choice goalkeeper can be an interesting job; Whatever tactical changes can be made to a team, train all week long knowing that the manager is unlikely to choose two positions between positions and that your opponents do not need frequent rest and rotation. . For most professional footballers, 25 is the age at which a player starts to reach his peak, but for Kelleher, things are finally starting to look up at Anfield.
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Patience and mentality are crucial for a bench player; Whether it is due to injury or lack of form, one must wait for a chance. Alisson’s hamstring injury allowed Kelleher to start seven consecutive matches, winning each one and lifting the Carabao Cup in the process.
Having started at Stamford Bridge more than two years ago, Kelleher’s Premier League appearances have been met with lesser lights; The magnitude of City’s visit will bring with it a higher level of pressure and scrutiny. Jürgen Klopp’s belief in Kelleher is unshakable: after Chelsea’s defeat at Wembley he described Kelleher as the second-best goalkeeper in the world, while his captain Virgil van Dijk described his teammate as “a world-class goalkeeper”. Very few backups are given this much praise.
He has made 19 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions this season, making it the busiest season of Kelleher’s career. As someone who made his debut almost five years ago, it’s surprising to many that he hasn’t left temporarily or permanently to move forward in the intervening period. There were offers for the Ireland international in the summer but Kelleher remained on Merseyside.
One reason that may explain Kelleher’s desire to stay in the long term is that he was brought up in Cork as a die-hard Liverpool supporter. Initially his dream was to emulate Fernando Torres or Luis Suárez, playing as a striker, but he later converted in his teens and quickly gained a head-turning reputation in England. His formative years could explain why his clinical penalty in the 2022 Carabao Cup final helped him clinch the trophy and show he can deal with high-pressure moments.
Kelleher made a number of crucial saves that day to ensure the match went to penalties. Despite all his efforts, he was soon reminded of the duty of the second goalkeeper, who did not feature in the first team again for nine months. There were equally impressive moments on Thursday, with two fine reflex saves keeping Liverpool one goal ahead against Sparta Prague. Wembley and the Czech capital can be intimidating places but Kelleher knows how to quiet the noise, which could be advantageous on Sunday.
The goalkeeper is making up for lost time. It’s almost natural for him to stop his shots, but with Alisson’s guidance he’s had to put in a lot of hard work getting in the crosses, which is paying off. Being able to quickly end an attack and relieve pressure is a great skill. Defenders like to play in front of someone who can dominate the penalty area and make their job easier, and a goalkeeper’s confidence can spread throughout the team.
Amidst all the injury uncertainty, Klopp has a lot to think about, being able to rely on Kelleher provides peace of mind at this crucial time. Many clubs fear that not playing may hinder development and that despite training at an elite level, the individual may not progress as matches are where the important learning process takes place. This is one of the reasons why those who expressed interest in acquiring Kelleher last summer did not do so with a concrete offer and preferred players who would spend more time on the pitch. If he feels he should leave for bigger opportunities in the summer, clubs are unlikely to take him on this time and the wider taste of first-team football may make him less reluctant to leave.
Somehow Kelleher seems unfazed, moving in and out of the team as needed, delivering the same levels of performance and never looking unprepared. Many reserve goalkeepers struggle with the idea of playing once a month, especially given the lack of reserve football to keep them fresh and the prospect of being thrown into battle in critical situations is nerve-wracking. His Premier League debut against Fulham in December left him a bit shaken in the early minutes but he quickly settled into his role.
Life as a goalkeeper is difficult, often remembered more for mistakes than saves. Athleticism and reflexes are naturally essential skills, but mentality and focus is often what separates the elite from the underdogs. It may be up to the world’s best number two to ensure Liverpool do not fall into the same status at the end of the season.