Former Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher says football comes secondary right now at Anfield with the team still coming to grips with the tragic death of Diogo Jota over the summer.
The Reds and Portugal winger, along with his brother, was killed in a car accident in Spain on July 3.
“I find it a bit strange and a bit difficult when I hear people speaking about the players at Liverpool and the performances, because I don’t think this season is even important from a football aspect for them to be honest,” [Kelleher, now at Brentford, told _The Independent_](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/caoimhin-kelleher-interview-brentford-ireland-liverpool-b2915190.html). “It’s more about them personally and mentally.”
A 27-year-old native of Cork, Ireland, Kelleher left the Reds in the summer transfer window in search of more regular playing time. Kelleher found himself behind both Alisson and the incoming Giorgi Mamardashvili on Arne Slot’s depth chart. But as a close friend of Jota’s, Kelleher says the move away from Anfield has helped him process his death.
“Listen, from an individual aspect, for me to leave and play first-team football was obviously right, never mind the tragedy that happened,” Kelleher said. “I stay in touch with some of the guys there, I have a lot of good friends there. It’s a very difficult time for them, a difficult season, with circumstances that people probably aren’t taking into account too much. But it’s probably been a bit easier for me, being away from it, and not being in such close proximity to it every day.”
A product of the Liverpool academy, Kelleher made 67 appearances across all competitions over six senior seasons for the club. In his time at Anfield, Kelleher won a Premier League title, two League Cups, an FA Cup and the 2019 Champions League title.
The Ireland No. 1 joined the Bees in an £18 million move on a five-year deal. He’s made 24 league appearances for the team this season.
Brentford, seventh in the table on 36 points and five behind Manchester United for the final Champions League spot, return to action on Saturday with a visit to 11th-place Newcastle.