Caoimhin Kelleher has started Liverpool’s last seven games across all competitions
Former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given has urged Caoimhin Kelleher to leave Liverpool at the end of the season in order to fulfil his potential.
The 25-year-old, who has been deputising for the injured Alisson Becker since October, continued his impressive form of late as he saved a penalty in the second half of the Republic of Ireland’s 1-0 win over Finland on Thursday.
But despite impressing in Premier League and Champions League action in recent weeks, as Liverpool moved top of both competitions, Arne Slot has already confirmed that Alisson Becker will resume his position as No.1 when he recovers from the hamstring injury he suffered against Crystal Palace on October.
READ MORE: Ibrahima Konate sends Kylian Mbappe message as Liverpool man tipped to replace strikerREAD MORE: I would not tell my kids to play like Mohamed Salah – I don’t think Liverpool forward is world class
Given, though, who enjoyed an illustrious Premier League career across spells with Newcastle United, Manchester City and Aston Villa, believes his compatriot needs to leave Anfield in the wake of Slot’s recent comments.
“Caoimhin played 26 games last season and in that time he showed that he has the talent to be a No.1 in the Premier League,” said Given. “But he turns 26 later this month and, if I am brutally honest, he needs to get away from Liverpool if he wants that to happen.
“Kelleher would have been disappointed to hear Slot state publicly that Alisson will always be his first-choice keeper because everyone wants to go into training every day with the belief that they are fighting for a place in the team.
“Every professional footballer has to have that hope that if they get a place in the team and perform well, then they will keep the jersey.
“Caoimhin hasn’t got that. It has been made clear to him that he will always be behind Alisson – and he is up against a guy who is one of the best in the world.
“He’s done his time at Liverpool, but they are now starting to think they can’t hold Kelleher back for much longer because he is a quality player.
“Maybe Caoimhin has been too nice about it up to now because sometimes you do have to force the issue. That isn’t a nice situation.
“He has been very loyal to Liverpool and he won’t want to upset the fans. But, at the same time, you only have one career, one life and one opportunity. Ten years down the road he could be 36 and people are talking about him as being over the hill.”
Alisson is unlikely to return to action before December, meaning Kelleher is set to keep his place between the sticks for the upcoming clashes against Real Madrid and Manchester City.
