One former Republic of Ireland international still cannot get his head around the fact that Liverpool sanctioned the sale of Caoimhin Kelleher in the summer
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 27: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andrew Robertson and Caoimhin Kelleher of Liverpool celebrate the teams victory and confirmation of winning the Premier League title after the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield on April 27, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and Caoimhin Kelleher of Liverpool celebrate the team's victory over Tottenham Hotspur and confirmation of winning the Premier League title at Anfield on April 27, 2025(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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It was a summer of massive change at Liverpool with nine new senior signings made and eight first-team players departing. And one of those players who headed through the Anfield exit door was Caoimhin Kelleher.
If Liverpool have had for many years arguably the best goalkeeper in the world in Alisson Becker, they had an incredibly strong No.2 in Kelleher, who won five major honours during his time at the club and who often stepped out of the Brazilian's shadow to demonstrate what a fine shot-stopper he is himself.
There was always going to come a day, then, when the Irishman would want to become a No.1 of his own and, with the Reds agreeing a £25m deal with Valencia for Giorgi Mamardashvili, a year ahead of the Georgian actually arriving on Merseyside, it was clear that Kelleher's time was always going to come to an end in the summer just gone.
After picking up a Premier League winners' medal, the 27-year-old linked up with former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson at Brentford, who paid a bargain £12.5m for his services.
Kelleher has gone from strength to strength with the Bees, so much so that a fellow Republic of Ireland international is still wondering why the Reds let him go in the first place.
Kevin Doyle, who played as a striker for Reading and Wolves in the Premier League during his playing days, said: "I think Caoimhin Kelleher could thrive at a club like Chelsea.
"I just can't believe Liverpool let him go. Even if he wanted to leave, they could have promised him the number one spot in a year or two. I'm sure they could have convinced him to stay.
"The transfer was also relatively cheap, money-wise, so I just don't get it. Is there something in training that they see and we don't?"
Reds boss Arne Slot and his predecessor Jurgen Klopp always showed their faith in Kelleher but with Alisson the club's undisputed first-choice, he was limited to 67 appearances across six seasons.
But Doyle, speaking to betting site BoyleSports, continued: "When I see him play for Ireland, and I've seen him so many times now, and at club level, he's so cool, so calm, and brilliant on the ball.
"He makes match-winning saves, he's everything you need in a goalkeeper.
"When Manchester United are looking for a goalkeeper, though Liverpool probably wouldn't have sold him to them, or when anyone is looking for a goalkeeper, he has the right mentality.
"He has the head on his shoulders that he needs, as well as being a very good goalkeeper. The pressure at a top club is massive, and from all I've seen from him, he has that composure.
"He's just amazing. Liverpool letting him go was a very strange decision to me."
The Reds are away to Bournemouth in the Premier League today (5.30pm)