Irish media react to what ‘excellent’ Liverpool star Kelleher did v Bulgaria
Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher caused a stir after his performance in the Republic of Ireland’s 2-1 win over Bulgaria.
Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side were looking to secure their status in League B of the UEFA Nations League after winning the first leg by the same scoreline.
Goals from Evan Ferguson and Adam Idah were enough to cancel out Valentin Antov’s strike that found its way past Kelleher in the 30th minute to retain their place.
Liverpool ace Kelleher shines despite conceding
Kelleher has endured a difficult time at Liverpool given that he is behind Alisson, who is widely regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world, in the pecking order.
However, he has emerged as the starter for the country and impressed on numerous occasions and despite conceding in both games against Bulgaria, he still made a good impression.
Irish outfit Balls.ie handed the Anfield ace a six and a half rating out of 10, saying: “Didn’t really put a foot wrong but he’ll be frustrated to have conceded in both games.”
The Irish Independent gave him a six but praised his ability with the ball at his feet, saying: “Couldn’t do a lot about Bulgaria’s opener and was only tested once after the restart, while his distribution was excellent.”
RTE gave Kelleher a six but admitted that the lack of action in front his goal played a part, saying: “His rating isn’t a true reflection of his performance though as much as underlining the fact he had little to do.”
Extra.ie handed him a seven, saying: “Flat footed for Antov’s flash opener, did fine afterwards as Ireland gained more control.”
Kelleher set to leave Liverpool in the summer
If Kelleher is going to retain his status as Ireland’s number one, he needs to move from Liverpool in the summer transfer window.
The 26-year-old is not going to overhaul Alisson between the sticks on Merseyside and cannot afford to settle for cup appearances.
| Competition | Kelleher appearances |
| Premier League | 8 |
| Champions League | 4 |
| FA Cup | 2 |
| Carabao Cup | 4 |
The impending arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili only serves to make his first-team prospects even more unlikely, so a departure makes sense for both parties.
Kelleher could secure a Premier League starting berth with the likes of Bournemouth, Chelsea, and Tottenham all reportedly interested in his services.
Leeds United are also monitoring the Reds stopper if they secure promotion to the top flight, as they need a replacement for Illan Meslier.
The L4 outfit will surely allow him to leave in the summer given that he has been a loyal servant to the club and deserves to be a regular starter elsewhere, rather than warming the bench for Slot’s side.