Joe Cole shares verdict on Caoimhin Kelleher’s performance for Liverpool against Brentford today

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Liverpool were rocked by the news that Alisson Becker has picked up a hamstring injury yesterday.

Having missed last week’s game against Burnley with illness, Alisson had since returned to training. But unfortunately, the Brazilian has now picked up another issue which we’re waiting to hear the seriousness of.

In his absence, Caoimhin Kelleher continued between the sticks for Liverpool at Brentford today. Already his 15th appearance of the season, Kelleher at least has a bit of rhythm.

And according to TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole, the Irishman was ‘fantastic’ at the Gtech Community Stadium. So good was Kelleher, that he had Cole questioning just how big a miss Alisson will be.

“Kelleher’s come in and looked fantastic today,” raved the former Liverpool forward. “Is that as big a loss as we night think? I don’t know.”

Kelleher makes an impact

It isn’t that most Liverpool fans don’t rate Kelleher. Everybody knows that he’s a serviceable ‘keeper who can do a job in the Premier League.

But when the alternative is quite probably the best in his position in the world, it’s bound to be a worry whenever the 25-year-old steps in.

In fairness to Kelleher though, he’s proven himself time and again. He’s come up with some big moments throughout his Liverpool career and is perhaps even now underrated amongst the fanbase.

Of course, he isn’t Alisson. But having been learning from the big Brazilian for a number of years now, Kelleher is about as good as it gets for a second choice goalie.

He showed that again today. The Ireland international came up with two big stops against Brentford.

The first one he was unlucky from, as Ivan Toney ended up sticking the rebound in anyway. He got down really quickly to get a firm hand on the close-range shot that preceded it, though. It was a shame for Kelleher that none of his teammates jumped in to help him out.

The second was a quite superb point-blank stop from a Toney header. Flicking on a near-post free-kick, the striker must have thought he’d scored. But there was Caoimhin.

As we wait to hear just how long Alisson will be out for, it’s clear that Kelleher is going to be in situ for the next two games at least.

Wednesday’s visit of Luton Town will surely come too soon for Ali. Then, the No.2 was always going to play the Carabao Cup final anyway. At least now Kelleher is coming into that big game in some form. Keep it up, Caoimh.