Caoimhin Kelleher's attitude amid Liverpool exit demand speaks volumes about goalkeeper

Arne Slot has been impressed by Caoimhín Kelleher's attitude despite the goalkeeper revealing he wanted to quit Liverpool this summer.

No. 2 goalkeeper Kelleher has seen plenty of action in recent years, with Alisson missing several games through injury. The Irishman has impressed in the Brazilian's absence, and he is no longer content with a backup role, craving the opportunity to nail down a starting spot elsewhere.

Kelleher, 25, was the subject of interest from Nottingham Forest in the summer but a move failed to materialize. And his prospects of replacing Alisson as Liverpool's No. 1 suffered a blow with the signing of Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia late in the transfer window.

Georgia international Mamardashvili will move to Anfield next summer after being loaned back to the Spanish club, and over the international break, Kelleher discussed his future on Merseyside.

“I made it clear in the last few years I want to go be a number one and play week in, week out,” Kelleher said at a press conference last week.

“The club made the decision to get another goalkeeper. From the outside looking in, looks like they have made a decision to go in another direction. It has been reported that Liverpool had rejected a few bids [for me] as well. It is not always in my hands to make the decision. My ambition is to prove I am good enough to play week in, week out."

Despite Kelleher making his desire to move on to new opportunities public, Slot only had good things to say about the academy graduate at his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's clash with Forest at Anfield.

I would be really worried if a player came out and said ‘I don’t care about playing first team football, I like it so much on the bench and want to stay there for the rest of my life’. That would be a bigger worry for me,” Slot said.

“It’s normal that he wants to play, but it’s also normal at a club like this, who tries to compete for trophies, has more than 11 players that can play.

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“As long as they can accept their situation, not accept it in a way like ‘I don’t care that I’m not playing’, but accepting it by helping the team whenever you have to, then it’s a good place to be in.

“Caoimhín has shown many times in the last few years and even in pre-season, that he’s ready when we need him every time. It’s a good thing that he wants to play. Who knows if he will play for us in the future? But at this moment I think it’s quite clear that Alisson is the number one.

“Last season Caoimhín played many games, so it’s a normal situation for a player to be in if you are not playing and you want to play, but he handles the situation really well.”