Liverpool may not even try and stop 25-year-old from leaving the club come next season 

Liverpool may not even try and stop 25-year-old from leaving the club come next season

Liverpool lost a number of big-name players during last summer’s transfer window, leading to a reshaping of the team.

 

The likes of Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson and James Milner left, amongst others, leaving Jurgen Klopp with work to do in the market.

hankfully though, one man he didn’t have to replace was back-up goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. Kelleher has been a reliable presence since becoming the Reds’ No2, but looked ready to leave at the end of last season. In the end, he stayed. But speaking to The Redmen TV today, former Liverpool stopper Chris Kirkland said that next year Klopp may have no choice but to let the Irishman go.

 

“I was half-surprised he didn’t move in the summer. I thought there was interest in him,” said the pundit. “Caoimhin has been that good of a servant, no fuss. If he went to the club and said ‘look, I want to move on, I need to go and play,’ the club would do it, because Liverpool are fair.

 

“I think next summer could be the one because listen, you’re not going to play in-front of Ali, simple as that.

 

 

“I’m sure there’s a plan behind the scenes with Caoimhin, but the club will do right by what he wants because he deserves to. He’s been an outstanding, loyal servant to the club.”

 

Kelleher ready for bigger role

Truthfully, we were also surprised to see Kelleher stay at Liverpool beyond the summer. With Premier League sides reportedly interested in the 24-year-old, a departure seemed inevitable.

 

But with no one seemingly willing to match Liverpool’s asking-price, Caoimhin remained – and remains – at Anfield.

 

From a Reds perspective, that’s obviously no bad thing. The Ireland international has proven himself to be an able deputy to Alisson Becker and has already played more games than last season.

 

However, it also must be said that Kelleher has looked a little rusty when playing in the early part of the campaign.

 

Caoimhin Kelleher

Turning 25 next weekend, the academy graduate is not a youngster anymore. He may have only played 26 times for Liverpool, but he’s been around the first-team for around five years now.

 

If he wants to be a No.1 at a good level sometime soon, then he may have to improve slightly when he gets his chances.

 

Nevertheless, it’s hard to imagine that Liverpool would stand in Kelleher’s way if he did find himself a move. The money and timing would have to be right, but Kirkland is bang on, Caoimh has earned his chance.

 

January should be a no-go. But it would be to no-one’s surprise if this is Kelleher’s last season at Liverpool. Make it count, Caoimh!

Thiago Alcantara hasn’t played at all this season, while Stefan Bajcetic, Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch have all suffered with fitness issues.

 

As a result, the manager recently suggested that Trent Alexander-Arnold might get a run in the Liverpool midfield. But as of yet that has not happened. Now, speaking to The Times during the international break, Alexander-Arnold has suggested that he really does want that chance.

 

“My specific skill set and what I’m best at is someone who plays in the middle, someone who controls the game, controls the tempo, creates, breaks line, progresses the ball up the pitch,” says the 25-year-old.

 

 

“You probably get more out of me from being in the middle and I’m able to show off that skill set as much as possible. My role is to go and create and make things happen, control the game in the middle of the pitch, get the ball on to the attackers, play forward, run forward, goals, assists, create chances, get people off their seats.”

 

Trent outlines midfield ambition

You can imagine Jurgen won’t be thrilled to see these quotes from his right-back. And in fairness, it isn’t especially helpful.

 

It’s clear that Trent really does enjoy playing in the middle of the pitch. You could see the joy return to his game last season when asked to play a new, inverted role for example.

 

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But right now, Liverpool really need him at right-back.

 

Despite injury and rotational issues, Klopp has enough options in midfield right now. The one position he could do with filling is the defensive midfielder, but Alexander-Arnold isn’t the answer to that.

 

Trent Alexander-Arnold

With new additions Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister having an average age of less than 23, it isn’t like a spot will open up anytime soon, either.

 

Mix in 19-year-old Bajcetic and 22-year-old Jones and it’s hard to see when Trent’s time will come.

 

The only worry with this is that Alexander-Arnold’s contract is currently due to end in 2025. If he really does want to play permanently in midfield, and Liverpool won’t give that to him, who’s to say he won’t decide to look elsewhere.

 

There’s no question that the Scouser wants to remain with his boyhood club. But the Reds can’t take that for granted. Something’s got to give.