Liverpool told they are about to drop one of the world's best after latest heroics

Liverpool told they are about to drop one of the world's best after latest heroics

Arne Slot has been told he will have to drop a potentially world-class player in order to bring Alisson back into the Liverpool starting line-up after the international break.

Alisson has not played since picking up a hamstring injury in Liverpool’s win over Crystal Palace on October 5. The Brazilian has watched on as Caoimhin Kelleher has grabbed the opportunity presented to him, performing impressively.

Slot’s side have won six and drawn one of the seven matches since that victory at Selhurst Park, with Kelleher contributing massively to the form which has taken them five points clear at the top of the Premier League. He has only conceded five goals in his eight games for Liverpool this season, keeping four clean sheets, and took that form into international duty, putting in a man-of-the-match performance to help the Republic of Ireland beat Finland 1-0 on Thursday.

Despite his form, Slot has made it clear that, once Alisson is fit, he will come straight back into the team. "First of all, Alisson needs to become fit," Slot said on the weekend. "I have always been quite clear, that's always been the position of Alisson. He is and will be our first goalkeeper if he is fit.

“But first he needs to be fit. But Caoimh has done outstanding, last season and this season again as well but the moment Alisson is fit, he will be our first goalkeeper."

That stance is holding back Kelleher’s development, according to former Ireland striker Kevin Doyle, who said on RTE: "I think in five or six years he is going to be in the top one or two goalkeepers in the world. He's that good at everything he does. He has got everything in the locker. He ticks every box. If he can get himself playing I feel he's going to be the top man."

Kelleher made no secret of the fact he was keen to leave Liverpool in the summer, but ended up staying because Nottingham Forest did not meet their £35million valuation. The 25-year-old is ambitious and the arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili, who was signed in the summer and loaned back to Valencia, next summer will further cloudy the waters for him.

Image: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

HAVE YOUR SAY! Which goalkeeper should Arne Slot select for Liverpool's next game? Comment below.

“Obviously my intention is to do as well as I can and show my ability,” Kelleher explained recently. “That is where my head is at with the situation. The best thing I can do is go and play well and maybe give the manager something to think about, give him a headache.

“But it does work both ways. I played so many times last season - and if you do well your valuation goes up because obviously the club is going to want a good profit. I was clear (in the summer) that I wanted to play first-team football, whether that was here or elsewhere. I wanted to be a No.1.

“That was my thought process – but it’s always been my thought process because obviously I am a football player and like every player, I want to play. I’m not going to enjoy myself or be happy sitting on the bench.”

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