How Kelleher became Liverpool’s penalty hero and why he now needs to leave

Unlucky timing seems to be a common theme at Anfield this season.

While Jurgen Klopp will be in Mallorca toasting Arne Slot's seamless transition from Liverpool, you can still imagine the sense of regret the German feels over the fact that his great rival Pep Guardiola and Manchester City imploded as soon as he walked away.

The sentiment could be extended to Carlo Ancelotti's marquee Real Madrid side, who look a shadow of their former selves. Without the 15-time European champions – who defeated them in two finals – and Guardiola's City, Klopp's trophy cabinet would have been much fuller.

And timing is also something that could start to haunt the ghost of Caoimhin Kelleher when he hangs up his gloves in about ten years' time. In any other era, he could have been Liverpool's No.1 for many years to come.

But that's not because the guy he shares a team and position with, Alisson Becker, happens to be the best goalkeeper in the Premier League – and perhaps the best in the world. Sorry Emi Martinez, the only goalkeepers keeping Alisson close are Thibaut Courtois and David Raya.

Kelleher made a special intervention on Wednesday evening to thwart Galactico Kylian Mbappé from the penalty spot. He was the hero in several national cup finals, but as an individual moment this is perhaps the most memorable.

The best compliment you can give the Irishman is that when he plays in the team for a few games, it's easy to forget Alisson isn't there. That doesn't mean he's better – Slot doesn't think so either – but Liverpool believe they have the best number two in the Premier League.

It's hard to argue with that. Stefan Ortega is the only other backup goalie with a realistic call for this tag. But what the two have in common is the fact that no matter what they do, they know it is extremely unlikely that their place in the pecking order will change.

For example, Ortega made a fantastic save against Son Heung-min last season to hand the title to his team, but he was replaced by Ederson when he was fit again. Kelleher was able to put together ten perfect displays in a row, but did not want to get rid of Alisson.

It must be a strange existence. It's worth saying that Kelleher has full respect for being No. 2, even if he was keen to move on this summer. Clearly Liverpool wouldn't stand in his way if he asked to leave after this season – if the price was right.

Slot said yesterday: 'Caoimh has accepted his role in a great way from the start of the season until now. It's way too early to talk about what will happen next season. I want every player to want to play every game. Want to play, but if they don't, they have to behave normally.'

Nottingham Forest offered £7m plus Matt Turner in a swap deal in August but this was laughed off by Liverpool, who demanded at least £25m for the 26-year-old. Nuno Espirito Santo's men also tried to sign him in January but their offer was rejected.

Liverpool believed then – and will still believe so now – that they were right for being steadfast, as Kelleher has played more than any other 'Number 2' in the league. This season he has played more minutes than Alisson – and his 26 appearances last season were just six behind the Brazilian.

The elephant in the room is that even if 32-year-old Alisson leaves, Liverpool have an agreement to sign Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili next summer. Georgia assistant manager David Webb told Mail Sport that the Valencia goalkeeper was 'one of the best in the world'.

These words came as a shock during a conversation in June, but were thoroughly supported by Georgia's heroic Euro 2024 campaign, in which Mamardashvili was the standout. With a base fee of £29 million, he looks like a bargain. Kelleher, however, was left frustrated.

“I have made it clear in recent years that I want to be a number one and play week in, week out,” he said in September. 'The club has a new goalkeeper and from the outside it looks like they have decided to go in a different direction.'

Kelleher has asked Alisson for advice if the number 1 goes out – his fitness record over the past 18 months is worrying – but he believes in his own abilities. Despite an overhaul of the coaches in the summer, former World Cup winner Claudio Taffarel, a close ally of Alisson, remained in place.

However, Slot did recruit a new head of goalkeeping by poaching Fabian Otte from the United States national team. The German has a PhD in goalkeeping and has used noise-cancelling headphones and goggles during training that limit peripheral vision.

However, he doesn't need any qualifications or crazy methods to see the class that his department possesses, which also includes Vitek Jaros – who won an Austrian league and cup double on loan at Sturm Graz last year – and former Crewe Alexandra loanee Harvey Davies.

Of goalkeepers who have played more than five games this season, only three men have a better save percentage than Kelleher, who has stopped 73.9 percent of the shots he has faced. They are Nick Pope (78.0), Robert Sanchez (74.9) and, you guessed it, Alisson with a whopping 88 percent.

Kelleher became the first player in 115 years to save penalties in consecutive games for Liverpool, following in the footsteps of the wonderfully named Augustus Beeby in 1909, according to Opta statistician Michael Reid.

“Caoimh is cool as ice,” Liverpool goalkeeping coach John Achterberg said last year. 'He can play left and right, his speed reactions are crazy and he reads the game so well. Those kind of goalkeepers are very expensive if you want to sign one.

'Liverpool are lucky to have two. I don't think they've had a better group of goalkeepers in the club's history. It's crazy to have a number 1 and a number 2 who can play at such a level. Caoimh has learned so much from working with Ali over the years.”

The Cork-born shot-stopper is the pride of his boyhood club Ringmahon Rangers and after winning the Carabao Cup last season, he posted them a shirt with a note from Klopp that read: 'To everyone at Ringmahon Rangers. Thanks for sending Caoimhin. He made you proud.”

He is now making all of Ireland proud and has taken the national team's number 1 jersey after a fight with Gavin Bazunu – which he also recently saved a penalty for. Now it feels like it's time to establish his authority at club level at No.1. Are there any takers?