Mohamed Salah is facing a race against time to be fit to play for Liverpool again after coming off with a hamstring issue against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
With just four weeks of the season left, there are genuine concerns that the legendary Egyptian has made his last appearance for the Reds.
Hope will remain that Salah can at least play Liverpool‘s final fixture of the season, though, and with some familiar faces set to arrive at Anfield with Brentford, it could be a very special occasion.
One of Brentford’s two prominent former teammates of Salah is goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. All being well, Kelleher will become the last ever Premier League keeper to face Salah, and the Irishman has already stated that he is hoping to keep the 33-year-old from scoring.
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Florian Wirtz knee slides in celebration after scoring for Liverpool during their Premier League match against Crystal Palace at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Liverpool FC).
Photo credit: Getty Images/Liverpool FC
Kelleher hoping to keep Anfield clean sheet
Salah has already scored against Kelleher this season having blasted an excellent, instinctive effort into the top corner during Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat to Brentford in October.
But when the pair hopefully meet again in May, the goalkeeper has admitted that he is aiming to keep Salah quiet, before apologising to him after the match.
“Hopefully, it’s an important game for both of us,” Kelleher told The Athletic. “But yeah, it’ll be nice to go back now and see old faces. And playing in the stadium again will be special.”
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Brentford's Caoimhin Kelleher applauds fans ahead of the Premier League match against Fulham at the Gtech Community Stadium
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
“Liverpool is a special place for me. I lived in the city (centre) for five years and loved it there. I just miss the people at the club. I have a lot of good friends there. I miss them, and I miss the city and the Scousers. I think they are similar to the Irish. They’re quite funny. I do miss them.
“Hopefully I’m apologising to him (Salah) after.”
Kelleher gives perspective on Liverpool’s struggles
As well as looking ahead to his Anfield reunion next month, Kelleher also gave his verdict on Liverpool’s difficult season.
The 27-year-old played a big part in the Premier League title win last year, and though many were expecting his former club to challenge for the championship again, Kelleher says that the death of his good friend Diogo Jota really has made the season irrelevant.
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Arne Slot reacts animatedly during Liverpool's UEFA Champions League match against Galatasaray at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Carl Recine).
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot kisses the Premier League trophy after the final day of the 2025/26 season at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Carl Recine).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Carl Recine
“For Liverpool, I don’t think it’s a season about football, really, for me,” he says. “Of course it is, but I think the situation, what happened (with Jota)… it’s a massive shock to everyone.
“You’re going through a lot of grief, a lot of different emotions. It’s not easy for those players to play at the highest level and be going through that as well. It’s been a tough season for them.”
Being removed from the situation, Kelleher has had an excellent first season away from Liverpool, with Brentford surprising just about everyone under Keith Andrews.
With the Bees currently sitting in eighth position, they will likely head to Anfield with their dream of achieving European football for the first time ever still intact. If he is on the pitch at all, that could make it a complicated goodbye for Salah.
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