Kelleher to deputise as Allison ruled out for two weeks
STEPPING UP: Caoimhin Kelleher of Liverpool during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Leicester City. Pic: Matt McNulty/Getty Images
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has received mixed news on the fitness of first-choice stopper Alisson Becker as the 'keeper's injury is not as bad as first feared - but will keep him out for at least two weeks.
The Brazil international appeared to sustain a hamstring problem very late in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Manchester City but managed to complete the match.
The injury to the Brazilian opens the door for Ireland international Caoimhín Kelleher to come in and deputise for the next run of games.
Cork native Kelleher is likely to feature in the next five games, starting with the Europa League visit of LASK on Thursday night.
Alisson should return for the visit of Manchester United in mid-December but forward Diogo Jota was also injured in that game but his prognosis is not as good.
"Both are out. Ali is a bit lesser, so we have to see. Not day by day - he cannot play tomorrow or Sunday. Probably not the week after should be kind of OK," Klopp said ahead of the LASK fixture.
"Alisson is not as bad (as we thought) but still bad enough.
"Diogo will take a little bit longer, don't know exactly. Have to see."
Kelleher has made only five appearances this season but last played back-to-back matches in January 2022 and has never played more than three matches in a row in his Liverpool career.
In the summer there was speculation about the 25-year-old wanting to seek first-team football elsewhere but Klopp said the current situation was exactly why the Ringhmahon Rangers graduate was persuaded to stay.
“Yes, that’s pretty much exactly it. That’s why we knew we wanted to have Caoimh here for these moments,” added the Liverpool boss.
“Nobody, Caoimh as well, wanted Ali to get injured, but if these things happen then you need the strongest possible option and that’s Caoimh for us.
“That’s the only positive about that, to be honest, that we can put in Caoimh. That’s fine.
“Now he gets an opportunity that he deserves, he would have played tomorrow night anyway, that’s clear, but now he will have a few more games and hopefully he can show his full potential.”
