After being rocked by defeat in the Champions League this week, Liverpool must now turn their focus to another big game.
The Reds have the small matter of the Carabao Cup final to come on Sunday, with Newcastle no doubt emboldened by the scenes at Anfield on Tuesday.
In reality, the clash against PSG could not have been worse preparation for Liverpool. As well as the morale-sapping realisation of defeat, the Reds were pushed for an incredibly intense 120 minutes against the Parisians.
Injuries were also sustained, with Trent Alexander-Arnold set to miss the Carabao Cup final with a problem.
There have been alarming suggestions that with Alexander-Arnold likely to leave this summer, he could have made his final appearance in a Liverpool shirt.
But while that should be considered a very real possibility, it seems even more certain that another Reds star is set for his last hurrah against Newcastle on Sunday.
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Caoimhin Kelleher set for final Liverpool appearance
One player who was not involved and tarred by Tuesday’s defeat was back-up goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
Kelleher has a supreme record in penalty shootouts and will perhaps be wondering if he could have made a difference against PSG.
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However, with Alisson Becker in terrific form himself, the Irishman could have no qualms about being on the bench.
Nevertheless, Kelleher has been Liverpool’s starting goalkeeper for each of their past two Carabao Cup wins, excelling in both the 2022 and 2024 finals.
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New reports have claimed Kelleher is likely to start against Newcastle as he aims to make it three and out three. And with only nine games of the season left to play following Sunday’s match, it is surely set to be his final outing with the Reds.
Kelleher is looking for a move this summer as he finally aims to spread his wings and become a starting Premier League goalkeeper. It would certainly be a special way to go out.
Is Kelleher definitely leaving?
Of course it had looked very likely that Kelleher would be on the move last summer only for the Liverpool academy graduate to ultimately stay put.
However, after another year of playing second-fiddle to Alisson, things feel different this time.
Giorgi Mamardashvili’s impending arrival only serves to ram home the feeling that Kelleher is finally on his way out of Anfield.
The Ireland international has just one year remaining on his current contract and as a result this will be the last chance for Liverpool to make some money on his exit.
Kelleher has been ‘outstanding’ at Liverpool. The 26-year-old is quite possibly the best back-up goalkeeper in Liverpool history. If he can secure a third Carabao Cup in his last ever outing, he will surely cement that status once and for all.
An injury to Alisson for the final nine games of the Premier League season could of course scupper this. But, for now, this should be treated like Caoimh’s last stand.