Former Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has agreed with Caoimhin Kelleher's comments that the signing of Giorgi Mamardashvili suggests that the Reds back-up stopper's future may lay away from Anfield.
The Irishman has established himself as a reliable No. 2 to first-choice Alisson Becker on Merseyside in recent years, playing 26 times last season alone. However, the 25-year-old has made no secret of his desire to play regular first-team football as he addressed his need for game-time while on international duty recently.
Kelleher made a series of admissions including admitting that the Reds' decision to sign Mamardashvili from Valencia this summer suggests that the club is moving in "another direction" when it comes to its goalkeeping options. With the Georgian set to spend the remainder of the campaign in Spain after completing a deal to join Liverpool, it remains to be seen whether the transfer indicates that a goalkeeper may depart the club in next summer.
Now, former Reds star Kirkland has given his verdict on the current situation in relation to the futures of both Alisson and Kelleher at Anfield. Addressing the Mamardashvili deal, he told Liverpool.com : "It suggests that either [Alisson] or Caoimhin [Kelleher] will be going. When that is, we don't know.
"Obviously, he has come out in the last few days with Ireland and said that if looks like if it is going to be anyone, it'll be him. I mean Alisson has just been unbelievable. Caoimhin, whenever he has come in, has done admirably well as well. Alisson is a step above anyone and has been incredible since he has come in."
Speaking about the club's new recruit, he added: "The new lad, the club have brought him in for a reason and clubs don't bring players in unless they've done all their tests, all their due diligence and watched players for a long peiod of time. They're bringing him in for a reason so it doesn't matter what people think, it's what the management thinks. The club have got a plan and we'll find out [what it is] in due course."
As for Liverpool's start to life under new boss Arne Slot , Kirkland has been left feeling positive after three wins in three for the Dutchman in the opening weeks of the season. He said: "I'm feeling really confident, it's gone well obviously. Three wins and three clean sheets, it doesn't get much better than that.
"I think the biggest compliment you can pay [Arne Slot] is that there has not been much talk of Jurgen Klopp since he left," the former England international asserted. "That's nothing to put down Jurgen - he was obviously wonderful for our club. He did amazing things and got us back on the successful track that he did, won all kinds with us. Everyone was worried in the summer when he was leaving.
"But [Slot] has settled in seamlessly and I think his press conferences are brilliant. He speaks superbly well. Obviously, you can talk a good game but you've got to get results and he's getting them at the minute. There will be tough periods, every team goes through it but I don't think they could have had a better start and it's great to see."
Kirkland also acknowledged that the next set of fixtures provide a stern test for the Reds, starting with Nottingham Forest . He said: "We need to keep players fit and you need a lot of luck - everything like that. With players coming back from international duty, you have to see what shape they're in.
"We've got a big couple of months coming up now, we've got lot of massive games [to come]. We need a full squad but we've got an outstanding squad with a mix of youth and experience with senior players."
He added: "So [the start to the season] couldn't have gone any better but it's one game at a time. After international games is tricky as you've all been travelling but I'm sure [Slot is absolutely delighted with the start."
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