'Faced an onslaught': National media feels sorry for Liverpool player after latest international display
Yesterday at 03:45 PM
Liverpool have one of the strongest squads in the Premier League, and it is no surprise that many of their players are on international duty at the moment.
Midfielder Curtis Jones is starring for England, while right-back Conor Bradley is going from strength to strength for Northern Ireland.
Central defender Ibrahima Konate is turning out for France, while forward Mohamed Salah is with Egypt.
Another Liverpool player who is involved in playing football during the international break is Caoimhin Kelleher.
Kelleher, urged by Mark Schwarzer to leave Liverpool, has established himself as the number one goalkeeper for the Republic of Ireland.
The Liverpool star started for his team against England at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday evening.
The Republic of Ireland were hammered 5-0 in UEFA Nations League – League B – Group 2.
The match was goalless at the break, but England stepped up their game in the second half and scored five goals without reply.
Verdict on Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher's display for Republic of Ireland vs England
The Three Lions were helped by the dismissal of Liam Scales in the 51st minute, and the media in the Republic of Ireland felt sorry for Kelleher.
Balls.ie gave Kelleher 5 out of 10 and noted: "Despite England’s dominance of the opening stages, there was little for Caoimhín Kelleher to do in the Irish goal.
"That all changed in a crazy opening 15 minutes to the second period, as Kelleher faced an onslaught from the England attack with Ireland down to ten.
"There was little he could have done for England’s open-play goals, and he could not replicate his penalty-saving heroics from Thursday night."
RTE.ie rated the Liverpool goalkeeper's performance 6 out of 10 and wrote: "Was his usual unflappable self in the first half but the Liverpool man wasn’t really tested until England’s second-half rampage. Made two good saves to prevent a sixth goal late on."
Liverpool told Caoimhin Kelleher should be ahead of Alisson
Kelleher will be back with Liverpool soon, and it will be interesting to see if he keeps his place in the starting lineup.
The 25-year-old has been starting for Liverpool in recent weeks due to the injury to Alisson.
Alisson is the first-choice goalkeeper for Liverpool, and the Brazilian is expected to be back to full fitness after the international break.
Former Chelsea and Republic of Ireland international striker Tony Cascarino believes that Liverpool manager Arne Slot should continue to play Kelleher even if Alisson is fully fit.
Cascarino said on talkSPORT: "They (Liverpool) need to make Kelleher their number one as well. I would hate to see him go because Alisson has had injuries over the last few years, and he is a terrific goalkeeper, he's a fantastic goalkeeper, but I think Liverpool, and what I have seen from Kelleher this season, how he has grown, his ability on the ball, he has got much bigger confidence that he had 18 months ago, and rightly so, he's playing more football."
The pundit added: "Kelleher has moved up pretty quickly, and I think it would be a mad mistake and I think in some ways Arne Slot might look at Kelleher and think he is the future, yes, we have made a goalkeeping change, Alisson was our number one.
"I am not so sure he will drop Kelleher when Alisson's fit, I am not convinced by that at all. He has been sensational for Liverpool."
