Cristiano Ronaldo highlights Liverpool transfer regret despite ‘not very difficult decision’

Cristiano Ronaldo is approaching his 1000th career goal, but the Al-Nassr star was denied during Portugal’s clash against the Republic of Ireland on Saturday night, thanks to Caoimhín Kelleher’s save

Caoimhín Kelleher showed Liverpool exactly what they’re missing out on during Ireland’s 1-0 defeat to Portugal on Saturday night. The Brentford goalkeeper, who left the Premier League champions in the summer, denied Cristiano Ronaldo from the spot in the second half of their World Cup qualifier.

With a quarter of an hour or so left on the clock, Ivan Kruzliak pointed to the spot after Francisco Trincao’s shot hit Dara O’Shea’s arm. The Al Nassr striker stepped up to the plate and, rather than picking out a corner, he tried to call Kelleher’s bluff.

Ronaldo struck the ball down the middle and, as the former Reds shot-stopper dived to his right, he hooked the effort with his trailing leg. Kelleher stopped the five-time Ballon d’Or winner from breaking the deadlock, giving his country fresh hope of nicking a winner.

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The Brentford goalkeeper has now saved four of the last seven penalties he’s faced for the club and country, with the last three stops coming against Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Kylian Mbappe. Kelleher hasn’t looked back since swapping Anfield for the G-Tech Community Stadium; meanwhile, Liverpool have looked a little lost without him.

Giorgi Mamardashvili made his first Premier League start just before the international break, and Arne Slot’s side looked shaky at the back when they lost 2-1 to Chelsea. Ironically, the Blues never managed to beat Liverpool when the Irishman was between the sticks.

While the Merseyside outfit – who have also regularly had to contend with injury issues surrounding No. 1 Alisson Becker – have been left to rue their decision to let him go, it was a fairly simple decision for Kelleher. Upon signing for the Bees in an £18m deal in the summer, he told club media that it “wasn’t very difficult” to leave Liverpool.

Nevertheless, despite Kelleher’s best efforts at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Saturday night, Ruben Neves netted a stoppage-time winner. The Al-Hilal midfielder, who left Wolves in the summer of 2023, marked his first game on home soil wearing the number 21 shirt in honour of Diogo Jota with a goal.

Neves pulled down his sock to show his tribute tattoo, and he pointed to the sky. Speaking to reporters after the game, the Ireland boss reflected on a ‘heartbreaking’ evening.

Heimir Hallgrimsson said: “It’s painful, really painful. A heartbreaking result. Sometimes we coaches try to look at performance when we lose games.

“I think what we planned to do, our game plan, worked. Our team effort, our teamwork, was excellent. There was a lot of energy put into this match. What we planned to do, I think that worked.”

The Ireland boss added: “And that’s even worse that we didn’t get anything from the match. Just being so close and ending up with nothing going back to Ireland is painful.

“That’s my reaction to the game. Maybe you want to ask about tactical things and stuff, but this is how I feel. It’s painful.”

Ireland currently sit bottom of Group F, with just one point from three games. On whether a place at the World Cup is still up for grabs, Hallgrimsson said: “Definitely. With three points at home, we’re back in the mix.”

On the penalty, the Icelandic boss said: “I wouldn’t have given it. We cannot argue that it went to the hand, but the hand was close to the chest.

“Probably most referees wouldn’t have given it, but once you give it, the VAR needs to say that you gave a wrong decision. I think he gave them too much respect.

“But I don’t want to find excuses. I’m not used to talking about the referee, so I’m not going to do that now.”

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