'Did not realise': Pundit can't quite believe how good £20m Liverpool player has been this season

11/12/2024 08:00 AM

Liverpool have been the best team in the Premier League by some distance this season, with Arne Slot’s squad management a key reason behind this success.

Despite using a relatively small squad compared to the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal, the Dutch manager has managed to squeeze out every ounce of quality out of Liverpool’s squad left behind for Slot by Jurgen Klopp.

Although the likes of Wataru Endo could leave Liverpool next year due to a lack of playing time, Slot has managed to take other players to new heights few would have expected, with Nigel Reo-Coker naming Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones as a duo have shone this campaign.

And Michael Bridges has now shared how impressed he’s been by one Liverpool player this season.

Caoimhin Kelleher praised after sensational season with Liverpool

Speaking on the Optus Sport Football Podcast, the pundit noted how impressed he’s been with Caoimhin Kelleher at Liverpool this season, with Bridges saying: "I thought they would miss Alisson, but I did not realise how good Kelleher is."

With Steve McManaman blown away by Kelleher’s 'outstanding' performance for Liverpool against Aston Villa, it’s safe to say that the Republic of Ireland international has slipped into Alisson Becker’s role with complete and total ease this season.

Praised by John O’Shea for becoming a role model for Ireland, Kelleher’s performance since replacing the injured Alisson between the sticks have been quite impressive, with the Reds one of the best defensive teams in Europe this season.

And with Kelleher now catching pundits off-guard by how good he is, the Cork-born talent could now be starting to attract interest from clubs heading into the January transfer window, with the goalkeeper in need of a move in 2025.

Kelleher’s form is becoming too good to ignore for interested clubs

With Kelleher valued at £20m and likely to leave next summer, the Irish international’s form is starting to becoming too good for interested clubs to ignore heading into 2025.

The 26-year-old goalkeeper has not only been one of the best players for Liverpool this season, but Kelleher is in the conversation for being one of the best shot-stoppers in the Premier League having played five leagues games already.

And with a move on the cards next year, Kelleher will find himself as a no. 1 elsewhere in 2025, with the Liverpool backup simply too good to be second or ever third choice next season at Anfield.