Jurgen Klopp has shared Alisson Becker’s response to being told he wouldn’t play in the Carabao Cup final.
Klopp was speaking to beIN SPORTS after Liverpool won the final on penalties.
The manager said that Alisson was happy with the decision. The Brazilian was pleased that Caoimhin Kelleher would get the chance to add his face to Liverpool’s training ground goalkeeping mural.
“When we told Ali that Caoimhin will play, Ali said okay, that’s good, if we win it then we can put his head on the famous wall in the goalkeeper area at the AXA where all the keepers who won trophies with Liverpool are on,” said Klopp.
“We can put him (Kelleher) on that as well. I hope the guy who is doing the painting is already on its way, because Caoimhin will be there as well.”
Liverpool erected the mural last year in a nod to legendary custodians past and present. It’s a great idea to highlight a position which often doesn’t get the praise it deserves.
According to Klopp, Kelleher will now join his current goalkeeping colleagues on the wall.
“There’s Adrian for the Super Cup, Ali obviously and now Caoimhin is on it as well. I love it to bits,” said the manager.
Kelleher will join legendary figures such as Ray Clemence, Elisha Scott, Bruce Grobbelaar and Pepe Reina on the mural.
Kelleher justifies Klopp’s faith
It was certainly a big call from Klopp to stick with Kelleher for yesterday’s final.
The decision had come under scrutiny from pundits such as Jamie Carragher, who suggested that in the biggest of games you always play your best players.
That was highlighted further by Thomas Tuchel’s decision to start first choice ‘keeper Eduoard Mendy for Chelsea.
Kepa Arrizabalaga had nominally been his goalkeeper for the competition. But Tuchel decided to send his first choice out for the 120 minutes, before Kepa stepped in for the penalty shootout.
But Klopp wasn’t to be deterred.
As it turned out, the Liverpool manager couldn’t have been more vindicated.
Kelleher made two excellent saves in normal time before making himself a hero with the winning penalty in the shootout.
The calmness he exudes is uncanny for a 23-year-old relatively rookie goalie. That’s no doubt helped by the fact that he has the likes of Virgil Van Dijk in front of him.
But that the world-class Dutchman seemingly trusts Kelleher behind him says as much about his quality as any save could.
What next for Caoimhin
As the spotlight falls on Liverpool’s young keeper, there will inevitably be questions about his future.
He has recently spoken of how he is improving just by training alongside a top quality goalkeeper like Alisson.
But he will have designs on becoming first choice for his country. That becomes difficult to achieve when sitting on the bench every week.
Liverpool will obviously hope to keep him. On this kind of form there can’t be many better back-up ‘keepers around.
However, if a big bid comes in, it may prove too good to turn down for a player who has been at Liverpool since the age of 16.
Whatever happens next, Kelleher has already written his name into Liverpool history. As the mural will soon show, he’s now in legendary company.
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