Liverpool have been far from their best this season and there are questions over the players that have been allowed to leave the club, with a summer sale becoming a huge mistake for the Reds
Arne Slot
Liverpool are now eighth under Arne Slot(Image: Getty Images)
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Liverpool's dramatic dip in form this season has left many scratching their heads, with the club's summer transfer activity coming under intense scrutiny. The reigning Premier League champions have seemingly descended into chaos, raising eyebrows over their aggressive recruitment strategy.
Liverpool broke records with their summer signings, bringing in talents like Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, both of whom are still finding their feet at Anfield. Some pundits suggest that these new additions may have disrupted the equilibrium for manager Arne Slot, while others question the wisdom of letting certain players go.
Among those who departed was Caoimhin Kelleher, who moved to Brentford for a cool £18m, while Giorgi Mamardashvili finally made his much-anticipated switch from Valencia to Liverpool.
This change in personnel could be proving costly for the Reds, especially given Alisson Becker's injury problems which have thrust Mamardashvili straight into the fray. The absence of Kelleher's steady influence as back-up keeper is keenly felt, a sentiment echoed by ex-Premier League goalie Ben Foster.
In a chat with TalkSPORT, Foster listed Kelleher among his top five Premier League goalkeepers, alongside Alisson, Emi Martinez of Aston Villa, Arsenal's David Raya and Manchester City's Gianluigi Donnarumma. The former goalkeeper was effusive in his praise for Kelleher.
He said: "He's [Caoimhin Kelleher] been phenomenal this season. I think what he's been exposed to at Liverpool, because he played quite a few games at Liverpool. Don't forget, Alisson had quite a few spells where he's been out injured. I think the way he handled himself at Liverpool, for one, was phenomenal, absolutely brilliant performances, really calm and measured.
"But I think that comes off the back of one, obviously his character, I think that's just how he is as a person anyway, but secondly, just being surrounded by Alisson as the number one goalkeeper, getting to watch that week in, week out. Because if you watch him play, Alisson, he is the personification of calmness under pressure. Any moment, you know that he's in full control of everything he's doing.
"I think Caoimhin's had this chance to be able to really watch him and learn from the best in that position. It kind of reminds me a little bit of my time when I was at Man United with Edwin van der Sar, same sort of thing. I didn't make it at Man United at the time, one, because I had Van der Sar in front of me where you just think, 'My gosh, you're so good, honestly, you're so, so good.'
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 06: Caoimhin Kelleher of Liverpool FC celebrates Liverpool's first goal during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Liverpool FC at Craven Cottage on April 06, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Caoimhin Kelleher left Liverpool in the summer
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"He's in control of everything, he's so calm, but when I did leave Man United, I was so well-equipped to deal with the rest of my career, it set me up for the rest of my career, and I think that's the same thing that's happened with Caoimhin."
It's precisely that composed approach that Liverpool have been lacking at various points this campaign, with matches becoming particularly open-ended and creating chances at both ends.
Whilst the issues may extend beyond simply having that reassuring and confident figure between the sticks, it's an element that could prove beneficial once Alisson returns to peak condition.
Kelleher has featured 11 times for Brentford following his summer switch to the club, with every outing coming in the Premier League.
The Republic of Ireland shot-stopper has registered two shutouts, shipping 17 goals during that period, as the Bees have begun to discover their rhythm in recent matches.
Foster isn't alone among former keepers in heaping praise on Kelleher's approach to his craft.
Shay Given also weighed in during discussions with The Times, commenting: "The good thing about Caoimhin is that he never gets too hard on himself when he does make a mistake or carried away when he saves a penalty, like he did against Ronaldo in the last game.
"He is still so calm and level-headed," he continued.
It's a quality that Liverpool benefited from for a considerable period, as the 26-year-old contributed to numerous trophy successes during his stint at the club. Now, he's making waves at Brentford and for the Republic of Ireland, even helping them secure a play-off spot for the 2026 World Cup during the November international break.
The Reds may come to rue his sale, as his hunger for more playing time has seen him continue to shine.
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