‘There’s no chance of him not playing,’ says Klopp ahead of Carabao Cup final
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has explained “there is no chance” of Caoimhin Kelleher not playing in the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea.
The Reds coach has already confirmed that the 23-year-old Republic of Ireland international would start at Wembley on Sunday. And Klopp has taken the pressure right off Kelleher by claiming if the decision “does not work out” then it will be on the head of the Reds boss.
Kelleher has made seven starts this season, but only two of those have been in the Premier League. Kelleher filled in for Alisson against Watford, when the Brazilian had only just returned from international duty. And he also replaced Alisson after the Reds No.1 tested positive for Covid-19 at the start of the year.
Kelleher has started three of the five EFL Cup games. He missed out in round four due to illness and Alisson was preferred in the first leg of the semi-final against Arsenal. Klopp decided to give Alisson a run-out with the 29-year-old needing a game after Covid-19.
But Kelleher will start against Chelsea with Liverpool looking to win the League Cup for a record ninth time.
Klopp has made it clear he will not be tempted to draft in Alisson as the Reds go in search of their first trophy since winning the Premier League in 2019/20.
“As always, if it works out, then it’s all about Caoimh,” said Klopp, via the Liverpool Echo. “If it doesn’t work out, then it’s all about me. It’s as easy as that, and I take it.
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Klopp desperate to keep Kelleher
“It’s just a thing we have to do because of the quality Caoimh has.”
Kelleher committed his future to the Reds last summer after making five first-team appearances in a breakthrough season on Merseyside.
The ambitious keeper is looking to continue his development and said he was looking to push Alisson.
“I am looking forward, try to keep pushing him and we’ll see what happens,” said the Cork-stopper in 2021.
And Klopp is desperate to hang on to the player, who came through the Liverpool U18s after arriving from Ringmahon in July 2015.
“We want to keep him as long as somehow possible, knowing that, from our point of view, the best goalkeeper in the world is our number one.
“Caoimh is an exceptional goalkeeper and we want to keep him here. And for that, he needs games. These games are his competition, and there’s no chance of him not playing,” added Klopp.
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