Arne Slot will soon have to decide whether Alisson Becker or Caoimhin Kelleher plays for Liverpool in the Premier League and Champions League
Arne Slot is adamant Alisson Becker will take back his starting spot for Liverpool ahead of Caoimhin Kelleher. The head coach is set to be presented with that decision later this month.
Alisson has been absent with a hamstring problem since the away victory at Crystal Palace on October 5. Like last season, Kelleher stepped up in his absence and without his three clean sheets and 24 saves in total, Liverpool’s title push would be nowhere near the dominant level it has been.
However, no matter the Irishman’s contributions Slot has repeated that the natural order at Liverpool will revert back to its original state once Alisson is available, which is expected to be this month.
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Asked if it will be a difficult choice by former Republic of Ireland stopper Shay Given for Amazon Prime Video Sport prior to the Reds’ wild 3-3 draw with Newcastle United, Slot replied: “No, I think I have been clear about the decision a few times.
“It is just as difficult as all the decisions we were just talking about – I don’t think Lucho [Luis Diaz] or Dom [Szoboszlai] deserve to be on the bench today [against Newcastle] if you look at their performances from Sunday, but it is a long season.
“A goalkeeper is a different situation. We are just as happy with Caoimh as you Irish are – he has done outstanding and that is why we should talk about now instead of what is going to happen in two weeks.”
Given replied: “I just want you to keep him in the team, that’s all!” Laughing, Slot said: “I understand,” then left that part of the conversation to lie.
In the 90 minutes that followed, Kelleher would concede the most goals he has done in a single match this season including one at the death that he would rather forget.
Slot commented after the final whistle the goalkeeper, like his teammates, would be particularly ‘disappointed’ for allowing the free-kick to run which Fabian Schar scored from to secure a dramatic equaliser in the closing minutes.
