Liverpool star set for fresh chance under Arne Slot weeks after admitting he wanted to leave

Liverpool could make one major change for this weekend’s Premier League clash against Bournemouth with one star in particular set to potentially come in from the cold

Liverpool star Caoimhin Kelleher could be handed a rare opportunity this weekend amid Alisson’s injury worries.

The Brazilian goalkeeper is a major doubt for the clash with Bournemouth at Anfield having picked up a muscle injury. Slot has not totally ruled him out but it remains to be seen whether he will be able to play.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the Liverpool boss said: “He has a slight issue with one of his muscles and we wonder if this game tomorrow is coming too early or not.

“I think he did not take it from the Milan game, it happened a bit before, but after the Milan game he felt more and more. Now we have to wait to see if he is ready to be in goal tomorrow, or we have to wait a few more extra days.”

Should Alisson fail to recover in time, it would open the door to Kelleher making his first appearance of the season. The Irishman has acted as Liverpool’s back-up keeper since his emergence under Jurgen Klopp.

The 25-year-old made 26 appearances in all competitions last term and made ten Premier League outings as Alisson attempted to overcome an injury. But he has yet to appear this time around.

He could appear just weeks after expressing his desire to leave Anfield for more first-team football. Speaking a few weeks ago, he said: “I made it clear in the last few years, I want to go be a No.1 and play week in, week out.

“The club made the decision to get another goalkeeper. From the outside looking in, it looks like they have made a decision to go in another direction.

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“My ambition has always been clear the last few seasons that I want to be a No.1, playing week in, week out. Sometimes from the outside looking in, it looks like it is 100 per cent my decision but at times, it is not always in my hands.”

Slot responded to Kelleher’s request shortly after. He claimed that he could understand his stance but suggested that the welfare of his side came first.

Slot said: “Maybe [he has to think of himself], but we have to make decisions as well. It’s not only the player. If you work at a club like Liverpool, you need competition and you need a lot of good players.

“Like I said, Mamardashvili is someone for the long-term future of the club and I’m really, really happy with the goalkeepers we have at the moment.”

Kelleher has two years remaining on the long-term contract he signed with Liverpool in 2021. He looks set to face more competition at Anfield next term with Valencia stopper Giorgi Mamardashvili set to arrive next summer.

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