Why Caoimhin Kelleher was missing from Liverpool's squad to face Crystal Palace as Alisson Becker gets injured
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Liverpool were forced into a change of goalkeeper on Saturday as they beat Crystal Palace 1-0.
The Reds weren’t at their fluent best for much of the 90 minutes, but came away with an important win nontheless.
Perhaps the most significant moment of the match came with around 10 minutes left, though, as Alisson Becker went down with yet another injury.
The Liverpool goalkeeper has only just returned from a spell out but pulled up again with what looks like it could be a more severe problem.
With Alisson unable to continue, Arne Slot turned to 23-year-old Vitezslav Jaros to make his Premier League debut for the Reds.
Now likely to be missing Alisson for some time, supporters may be worrying about the whereabouts of Caoimhin Kelleher on Saturday. Thankfully, the Irishman’s absence has already been cleared up.
Caoimhin Kelleher misses out through illness
Kelleher was an important figure for Liverpool last season. After Alisson picked up a similarly problematic hamstring injury, the 25-year-old played 26 times.
For a back-up ‘keeper, that is an awful lot. And Kelleher is going to have to go to the well once again this term.
That will not be an issue for the Ireland international, of course. Kelleher wants to play more games and although bad news for the team, Alisson missing out will give him the chance to do that.
The first opportunity to step in came on Saturday, but Kelleher had to defer to Jaros.
READ MORE: Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk delivers verdict on Alisson Becker’s hamstring injury
Slot was pleased with Jaros’ performance, with the Czech standing firm to keep a clean sheet during his time on the pitch.
With some enormous games coming up, though, Liverpool fans will be desperate to know that Kelleher will be back for after the international break.
And according to liverpool.com before Saturday’s game, that is set to be the case.
They claim that Kelleher was not in Liverpool’s matchday squad to face Crystal Palace as he was suffering with illness.
Liverpool relying on Kelleher again
It is such a shame that Alisson cannot seem to stay fit right now.
The 32-year-old was once again really important for Liverpool against Palace, earning himself a fourth clean sheet of the Premier League season.
But we have never known a goalkeeper to be injured so much. With every passing game, Liverpool’s decision to sign Giorgi Mamardashvili for next season is looking like a better one.
For Kelleher, though, this is exactly why he was kept around instead of being sold in the summer.
The Liverpool academy graduate showed his class last year and he’s going to have to do so again if the Reds have any chance of staying in a title race.
