In the latest Blood Red column, Ian Doyle looks at the goalkeeper situation at Liverpool and why a strong number two is more important than ever before
Bruce Grobbelaar, the decorated Liverpool stalwart of the 1980s and early 1990s, may have been one of the first advocates of goalkeepers wandering beyond their initial remit of merely preventing the ball from going into their net. But the modern Premier League era is when the notion of keeper as all-round footballer has been truly embraced.
An ability with the ball at their feet as well as in their hands has now become a prerequisite for almost every leading player between the sticks, particularly with clubs regularly challenging for honours.
And few would dispute that Liverpool possess arguably the very best in Alisson Becker, whose comfort in passing out of the backline is proving a foundation under new head coach Arne Slot’s preference for possession.
But as well as being at the vanguard of the current approach to goalkeeping, Alisson also underlines the increasing pitfall of a ball-playing number one. The more they play like an outfield player, the more they run the risk of picking up injuries similar to such team-mates.
So it has proven once again, with the Brazil international a major doubt for today’s Premier League visit of Bournemouth having missed two days of training with a tight hamstring.
Given Alisson spent two months out last season having suffered a serious similar injury, Liverpool would be wise to err on the side of caution.
Certainly, it’s nothing new for the 31-year-old. Throw in the occasional illness, a shoulder problem, a hip complaint and a long-term calf issue, Alisson has been sidelined for around 200 days since arriving at Anfield in the summer of 2018.
And it perhaps underlines why Liverpool were so reluctant to allow Caoimhin Kelleher to depart during the recent transfer window at anything other than a market value that was raised significantly by his regular outings last season – a career-high 26 – in the absence of Alisson.
Kelleher, for his part, has made his feelings clear on his Liverpool situation. “I want to go and be a number one and play week in, week out,” he said earlier this month while on Republic of Ireland duty. “The club’s made that decision to get another goalkeeper and from the outside looking in, it looks like they’ve made a decision to go in a different direction.”
That, of course, was in reference to the Reds’ unusual transfer move last month in agreeing a £30million deal to sign Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia, with the Georgia international goalkeeper remaining in La Liga until the end of the season.
While Alisson welcomed the move as essential forward-planning by Liverpool, the same evidently cannot be said for Kelleher who, with good reason, is pondering exactly whether his ambitions can be realised at a club that could soon have, with Vitezslav Jaros also in the squad, four full international goalkeepers.
There cannot, however, be any question marks over the 25-year-old’s ongoing commitment to Liverpool, where he has progressed through the ranks over the last nine years and played a starring role in two League Cup final triumphs.
An expected first appearance of the season in the competition at home to West Ham United next Wednesday is now poised to be brought forward, with Kelleher having last featured in the dismal 3-0 home Europa League reverse to Atalanta in April.
And his elevation from the bench will be the latest test of the readiness Virgil van Dijk called for after Tuesday’s Champions League win at AC Milan when addressing the relative lack of rotation from Slot so far this campaign.
“For consistency you have to stay fit and do everything in your power to be ready for the next game whether you start or not,” said the Liverpool skipper.
“That’s key in order to be successful, there will be rotation and we need everyone to keep pushing. If you want to be successful, you have to make that sacrifice.”
Alisson’s injury record means it’s unlikely to be the only time Kelleher will be pressed into action this season.
But recent events have indicated the goalkeeper will soon be seeking pastures new – even if the need for a top-quality number two between the sticks at Liverpool is once again being graphically illustrated.
