'He needs to go': Premier League legend tells 'world-class' Liverpool player to leave Anfield

Yesterday at 03:15 PM

Liverpool have enjoyed a wonderful start to the season as they sit top of both the Premier League table and the Champions League standings.

What’s even more impressive for Liverpool is the fact that new manager Arne Slot has done this without a number of key players.

The likes of Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Harvey Elliott, Federico Chiesa and Diogo Jota are all on the sidelines.

One player in particular has been doing a superb job deputising for the first-choice player in his position.

Now, Premier League legend Mark Schwarzer has called for said player to consider a move away from Anfield in pursuit of first-team football.

READ MORE: Liverpool staff concerned about Trent Alexander-Arnold with four clubs all interested in signing him

Mark Schwarzer urges Caoimhin Kelleher to leave Liverpool

The player in question is Caoimhin Kelleher, who has been a revelation whenever he has stepped in for Alisson.

The Republic of Ireland ace is enjoying a fruitful run in the Liverpool first-team, once again showing why he’s the Premier League’s best second-choice stopper.

Indeed, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said earlier this year that Kelleher is “world-class”, calling himself one of the Irishman’s biggest fans.

However, Slot has made it clear that Alisson is his first-choice keeper, meaning Kelleher will once again be sitting on the bench when the Brazilian is back.

And Schwarzer, speaking on the Optus Sport Football Podcast, stressed that the 25-year-old is “that good” a goalkeeper that he should be playing regularly.

"I was critical in terms of – on Kelleher a little bit – in terms of, I think he needs to go,” said Schwarzer, who is eighth in the Premier League’s all-time appearance list (514).

“I think he needs to go and play somewhere every week because he is that good a goalkeeper. He needs to play."

What Shay Given has said about Kelleher

Irish goalkeeping legend Shay Given has also claimed that Kelleher needs to leave Liverpool and carve out a career for himself.

Indeed, Given – speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live – believes his compatriot should have left Anfield last summer.

"The summer was the best time for Caoimhin to move on and show everyone he is good enough," said Given, who won 134 caps for the Republic of Ireland.

"He is number one for Ireland at the minute and we need him to be playing regularly in the Premier League, because I think that is the level he is at.

"He is going to be back in the team now for sure – I think Alisson will be out for a few weeks – so he has got an opportunity again.

"But, at the same time, Caoimhin is 26 years old in November. He isn't getting any younger. Each game that goes by where he doesn't play, he will never get back.

"He has only got one career, one life and one opportunity at being a top goalkeeper."