Caoimhin Kelleher was handed the start in his third League Cup final as Arne Slot opted for the Irish goalkeeper over Alisson in Liverpool’s Carabao Cup clash.
Slot addressed the decision ahead of the match, revealing that it wasn’t a tough choice for him, despite the slight uncertainty around the selection given Liverpool’s pre-final lineup.
Alisson’s absence and Kelleher’s role in the Cup
For several seasons now, the Carabao Cup has been Kelleher’s opportunity for regular game time, a role that was first established under Jurgen Klopp and has continued under Slot.
Kelleher’s appearances in the competition have become a fixture, with the Irishman playing in three of Liverpool’s five Carabao Cup matches leading up to the final this season.
Alisson and Vitezslav Jaros each featured in one game, which raised some questions about who would start in the final.
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However, when the team sheet was released an hour before kick-off at Wembley, it was Kelleher’s name that appeared in goal.
Slot confirmed that the decision was a straightforward one when speaking to Sky Sports before the match.
“The choice wasn’t that difficult.”
Slot admitted.
“The only time I played Alisson was when he had been out for a long time with injury. At that point, he needed game time to get back to his best. But for all other matches, we’ve always played the second-choice goalkeeper, and that includes Vit Jaros when Kelleher was the number one. Caoimhin has always been excellent for us, and he deserves to play this final.”
The decision wasn’t unexpected for most Liverpool fans, given Kelleher’s impressive performances in previous Carabao Cup campaigns, including the two cup-winning seasons. His consistency in the competition has made him a reliable figure, particularly in big moments like penalty shootouts.
Lineup changes and tactical adjustments
Kelleher’s inclusion was one of only two changes to the starting lineup from the midweek defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The other change saw Jarell Quansah fill in at right-back, replacing the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Slot discussed the tactical implications of these changes, particularly the absence of Alexander-Arnold.
***“I don’t think it changes our formation or how we want to build up. But it’s definitely different when you don’t have Trent, who can play the ball wherever he wants. Jarell brings other qualities, though. He’s very good in set pieces, as we saw against PSG when he nearly scored from a header off the post. It’s those small margins that matter.***“
Slot emphasized that while the team would adapt without Alexander-Arnold, the overall style and tactical approach would remain the same.
Also read: Liverpool players in England squad: Who is in and who is out?
Sai Akshay
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