Arne Slot Reveals Liverpool Starter for Southampton Cup Showdown
Arne Slot has confirmed that Caoimhin Kelleher will start in Liverpool’s Carabao Cup quarter-final clash against Southampton on Wednesday night.
The Liverpool manager is expected to rotate his squad for the trip to St Mary’s, with the game coming amidst a packed Premier League schedule as the Reds aim to maintain their position at the top of the table.
While Alisson Becker has recently returned from a two-month injury layoff, starting against Girona and Fulham last week, he’ll sit out the cup tie, giving Kelleher the opportunity to step back into the starting XI.
Kelleher’s Role Confirmed by Slot
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Slot was asked if Liverpool fans could expect Kelleher to start and responded simply: “Yes, we can.” He praised the Irish goalkeeper, noting that despite Alisson’s injury earlier in the season, Kelleher has gained significant minutes and proven himself.
“We’re fortunate to have such a reliable second-choice goalkeeper. If we need him, he always delivers, as he has done throughout the first half of the season,” Slot added.
Kelleher’s Future and Competition
Kelleher has consistently stepped up in domestic cup competitions and performed admirably during Alisson’s absence in the autumn. However, with Alisson back and Giorgi Mamardashvili set to join Liverpool next summer, Kelleher’s long-term future at Anfield remains uncertain. His national team coach has even suggested he may need to leave Liverpool for regular first-team opportunities.
For now, Liverpool fans can take comfort in knowing Kelleher’s presence between the posts against Southampton ensures the Reds remain in safe hands. Whether this will be one of his final appearances for the club remains to be seen, but his contributions to Liverpool’s success shouldn’t be overlooked.
