Liverpool have an array of goalkeeping talent in their squad.
Be it Alisson Becker – Liverpool’s No1 – or Coaimhin Kelleher – Liverpool’s No2, the team has an assured pair of hands in net.
The problem is that only one can be fielded at any given time, and that creates a competitive dynamic, which will inevitably spill over into bitter frustration from the one who ends up being sidelined more often than not.
Upon Alisson‘s arrival to the club from Roma in 2018, finally putting to an end the goalkeeping woes that Liverpool had experienced in the years prior, he became one of the standout players in his position.
Time after time, when the Reds found themselves in a dangerous position defensively, the Brazilian would come up with a clutch save to keep the side in the contest.
He’s subsequently done this now for seven years on Merseyside, making him a fan favourite and gradually receiving recognition for his outstanding quality.
Meanwhile, Kelleher has risen through the ranks of Liverpool’s academy and has comfortably become Liverpool’s No2 – widely regarded as one of the best in his role as well – but he has been unable to break through to become the main man.
In a stunning display last night, after a substantial period away from the game, Alisson gave Kelleher a stark reminder that he will always be fighting for minutes, only managing to get a gig when Liverpool’s No1 is physically unavailable.
Kelleher stepped up this season
In early October, in a fiesty contest against Crystal Palace in the Premier League, Alisson pulled his hamstring towards the end of the game, and Liverpool’s No3, Vitezslav Jaros had to come on for the dying minutes.
While Kelleher was absent with illness that day, it was already confirmed that when he returned he would step up in Alisson’s absence.
At the time, Liverpool had an impressive defensive record – six clean sheets and four goals conceded in the 10 games the Brazilian had played.
In addition, the upcoming fixtures looked daunting, with clashes against Chelsea, Leipzig, Arsenal, Brighton (twice), Leverkusen, Aston Villa, Southampton, Real Madrid and Manchester City, all coming in the Reds’ next 10 games.
So it was nothing short of a steep ask, that would require a monumental effort from the Irishman if Liverpool’s defensive form was to continue.
But, yet, he took to his task like a duck to water, stepped up on every occasion that Arne Slot asked him to, and in that 10-game period, he delivered five clean sheets and eight goals conceded, as the Reds continued their fine vein of form, only dropping points twice.
It was like Alisson never left
It was as if Alisson had never left for the most part, and it looked as though Liverpool may have a problem on their hands to deal with.
However, last week Liverpool played Newcastle, in one of their most hard-fought contests of the season, and despite Mohamed Salah continuing on his ridiculous goalscoring form, to give Liverpool a 3-2 lead going into the final 10 minutes of the game, the team drew 3-3, largely because of a huge error from Kelleher, which left fans with a sour taste in the back of their throats.
Resentment kicked in, which was largely unfair because it was his first mistake of the season, but there was an attitude that Alisson wouldn’t have made such a costly mistake. Unfortunately, Kelleher did, and it has subsequently proved pivotal.
Alisson’s outstanding return
After Liverpool were given an extra few days off because last weekend’s Merseyside Derby was postponed due to Storm Darragh, Slot was faced with an important choice,
Following nine weeks away from the game, Alisson was back, declared fit by the medical team, and in need of some minutes in goal to get himself back up to speed.
Liverpool fans had hoped that Slot might rotate the team a little, but he decided against it and put up a strong lineup with limited changes – one notably being Kelleher out, and Alisson back in.
What followed was a return to the status quo, as the Brazilian made five outstanding saves to keep Liverpool in the game, as the Reds took home all three points in the Champions League once again, becoming the first team to qualify for the last 16 of the competition.
In his post-match press conference (via LFC), Arne Slot was full of admiration for Alisson’s efforts on his return.
He said: “I almost feel sorry for them [Girona] because they deserved so much more in this Champions League campaign than the three points they have until now. But we have an incredible goalkeeper.
Alisson reminds Kelleher why he’s No1
“I said a bit of a joke that maybe the players wanted to see how fit he [Alisson] really was, so to give him so much work. But, of course, that was not our plan. He showed again today why I said so many times that he’s our first goalkeeper.
“That has nothing to do with Caoimhin [Kelleher] – he did so, so well. But Alisson has been so important for this club for so many years, for his country as well. [He] showed today that he’s probably one of the best, in my opinion the best goalkeeper in the world.”
Now, on the face of it, Slot bringing ‘the best keeper in the world’ back into the team was always going to happen, and last night he certainly needed minutes, even if he wasn’t to return back to the starting XI full-time.
But, in reality, we all knew he would. He’s Alisson Becker. The man charged with shouts of being the best goalkeeper the Premier League has ever seen.
The problem is however, Kelleher has always yearned to be the main man in a football team, their No1 in goal, and even despite his best efforts in 11 games, despite making an error in his last appearance, his fate has been sealed.
Alisson was always going to come back in, and with the arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili next summer, Liverpool’s academy success story will undoubtedly push on to leave the club.
He will still be required at times this season, but any dreams he had of succeeding at Liverpool beyond his current role, have most firmly been crushed.
