Liverpool icon heaps praise on Caoimhin Kelleher

Extra.ie​

a day ago

Caoimhín Kelleher was widely seen as one of the best backup goalkeepers in the Premier League during his time at Liverpool.
This summer, the Irish shot-stopper finally left the shadow of Alisson Becker and is preparing for his first season as a number one in the big leagues with Brentford.
While Liverpool fans were disappointed to see him leave Anfield, the move is definitely progressive for his career. Kelleher completed a move to Brentford this summer. Pic:Another former Reds goalkeeper who knows a thing or two about delivering on the big stage is Jerzy Dudek.
Dudek played 186 times for Liverpool but is easily best known for his penalty shootout heroics in the 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul.
The former Poland stopper has heaped praise on Kelleher for his time at Anfield but believes that Arne Slot has another very good backup in Giorgi Mamardashvili.
The Georgian signed for Liverpool from Valencia last August but played the 2024/25 season at the Spanish club.
Dudek believes that Mamardashvili will be a key player for the Premier League winners this season, similarly to how Kelleher was over the past couple of years. Dudek was Liverpool's hero in 2005. Pic: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
He told the official Liverpool website: 'I think we have two really good goalkeepers. We also had two really good goalkeepers because Kelleher was absolutely amazing when he had the opportunity to play because Alisson couldn't, and this is what you need.
'You know from the past that the competitions are long, there are many, many games to come. You never know what is going to happen and you need two good goalkeepers.
'Alisson is, in my opinion, one of the best goalkeepers in the world and he is the No.1 and then Mamardashvili, he can be a really good replacement. He has got all the capacities to be at the top of the game, which absolutely we need.
'For every position you need to have a good replacement, especially in goal.'
Kelleher made 46 appearances for Liverpool over the last two seasons. Kelleher earned seven winner's medals at Liverpool. Pic: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Last year, he played 10 times in the Premier League and another 10 times across the FA Cup, EFL Cup and Champions League.
Dudek continued: 'So far, from what I have seen, the relationship between the goalkeepers here is very good and I hope it stays like that because there are so many competitions and everyone will get a chance.
'It's not like it used to be where one goalkeeper could play 300 games in a row! It is nothing like this anymore so now you will get the chance to play.'
During his time at Liverpool, Kelleher kept 24 clean sheets in 67 appearances.
He is also a record-holder, having won the most penalty shootouts of any Liverpool goalkeeper with four.
Kelleher joined the Reds from Cork side Ringmahon Rangers in 2015 and earned seven winner's medals at the club. Giorgi Mamardashvili is Liverpool's new backup goalkeeper. Pic: Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images
Dudek, who also joined Liverpool from a foreign league, believes that adapting to the Premier League will be a challenge for new man Mamardashvili.
He added: 'The game is quicker. There is much more pressure on the player and he will probably find that out very soon!
'There is much more pressure on the goalkeeper, especially now when you are trying to build the play with your feet but also with crosses, and this is a huge difference between the Premier League and when you play in the Champions League, for example.
'It is a different style of refereeing and everything that is a foul in Europe is 'play on' in England. As a goalkeeper you have to accept it and be strong in your mind that it doesn't matter what is going to happen, you need to deal with it.
'I found this out at the beginning when I joined Liverpool and realised I had to adapt. I didn't accept it at first but you have to be really strong and you need to respect it because it is the same for everyone.'