National media react as Liverpool star Caoimhin Kelleher concedes five in Republic of Ireland loss
Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher was spared of blame despite the Republic of Ireland star conceding five goals in the loss to England on Sunday.
The 25-year-old is considered the best back-up goalkeeper in the Premier League and has impressed since taking over from Alisson Becker after he picked up a hamstring injury in the visit to Crystal Palace on 5 October.
The Reds stopper was helpless in the 5-0 defeat at Wembley on 17 November, especially after Liam Scales was sent off with the Irish media sympathetic to the keeper.
Irish broadcaster Radio Teilifis Eireann [16 November] awarded him a 6/10 rating, writing: “Was his usual unflappable self in the first half but the Liverpool man wasn’t really tested until England’s second-half rampage. Made two good saves to prevent a sixth goal late on.”
Meanwhile, Irish website Balls.ie felt that he deserved a slightly lower 5/10 rating, writing: “Despite England’s dominance of the opening stages, there was little for Caoimhín Kelleher to do in the Irish goal.
“That all changed in a crazy opening 15 minutes to the second period, as Kelleher faced an onslaught from the England attack with Ireland down to ten. There was little he could have done for England’s open-play goals, and he could not replicate his penalty-saving heroics from Thursday night.”
Caoimhin Kelleher must leave Liverpool for regular football
Kelleher will return to the substitutes bench for Arne Slot’s side when Alisson returns from injury after the international break.
The Irish stopper cannot afford to continue on Merseyside as second fiddle to arguably the best goalkeeper in the world.
The arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili next summer [Fabrizio Romano] is expected to signal the end of Kelleher’s stint at Anfield and he has been vocal on numerous occasions about his desire to play first-team football regularly.
Given Allison’s injury record and the fact that third-choice stopper Vitezslav Jaros does not have sufficient experience, it is unlikely that Kelleher will be allowed to leave this season.
However, he must take control of his future in the summer as there will be significant interest after his stellar performances for club and country.
He has had fantastic moments to look back on in his time with Liverpool, but it is time for Kelleher to leave and start every week. He is too good for the bench.
In other Liverpool news, Ben Doak is living up to the hype after what he did on international duty.
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