Liverpool are going to have to manage without some big players for the foreseeable future.
As injuries ravage the squad, the Reds have been left without a number of stars for tomorrow’s Carabao Cup final. Beyond that, their fight to win the Premier League title will go on regardless of who’s missing.
One of the biggest and most costly absentees looks likely to be goalkeeper Alisson Becker. As Pep Lijnders relayed yesterday, Alisson is set to be out until after the March international break.
Consequently, there’s a big job ahead for second choice ‘keeper Caoimhin Kelleher. And speaking to liverpoolfc.com about Kelleher’s current place in the team, Jurgen Klopp praised the Irishman, while also dishing out a big compliment to Alisson.
“He just deserves it, let me say it like that, of all the things,” Klopp enthused. “We have so many nice stories at the moment with our own kids getting through to the first team.
“And I think having Alisson Becker in the club as the No.1 – if I would have to make a world XI tomorrow, he would be the goalie – being then No.2 is top because you can learn so many things.”
Klopp makes Alisson claim
Although the bulk of what Klopp was saying here focuses on Kelleher, he also shows exactly what he thinks of Alisson.
It isn’t the first time the manager has declared the Brazilian to be the best goalkeeper around right now. Jurgen hasn’t been shy of proclaiming exactly what he thinks about his No.1.
But it does highlight just what a job Kelleher has to do to replace Ali.
It’s worth mentioning that Liverpool have made do without the 31-year-old for a large chunk before. Plenty will remember that Alisson actually missed nine games of the Reds’ title-winning campaign in 2019/20.
Back then, Klopp was arguably in an even worse position. Adrian was the man brought in to shoulder the burden. Although he did a good job, Kelleher is a better goalkeeper.
Maybe Alisson being out could actually be seen as something of a positive omen for Liverpool, then.
Amazing though he is, the Reds have shown that they can buck up and get by without him and go on to win the league. As they look to do the same four years on, maybe some muscle memory will kick in.
That may seem like a big stretch, but excuse us for trying to put a positive spin on a really bad bit of news for Liverpool.
To our mind, Alisson is without doubt the best goalkeeper in the world at the moment, and it isn’t especially close. Liverpool are going to miss him enormously, but what a chance for Kelleher.
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