Arne Slot has been consistent with his words about goalkeeper Alisson. When the Brazilian is available, he will remain Liverpool’s No 1 and there’s nothing Caoimhin Kelleher can do to change it.
Slot confirmed the pecking order when he was asked last month if Kelleher’s form could have an impact on his decision. “I’ve been quite clear,” he said, “And that’s always been the position of Alisson that he is, and will be, our first goalkeeper if he is fit.” There was little doubt where Slot’s loyalties lie.
Now, after two months on the sidelines, 32-year-old Alisson has returned to full training and, according to Slot, will be starting tonight in their Champions League match away to Girona.
“If you can play with Alisson, who has been so outstanding for this club for so many years, then it’s nice to have him available,” the Liverpool boss said in his pre-match press conference.
“If you look at his replacement (Kelleher) it’s not going to be easy to do much better. We have two very good goalkeepers, but for so many years Alisson has performed so well and we expect that to continue.”
Alisson acts as a calming presence for Liverpool and is the first-choice goalkeeper because of his consistency and experience. He’s made almost 500 career appearances for Internacional, Roma and Liverpool since 2013 and has won every major trophy since moving to Anfield.
His dominance in one-on-one situations, as well as his composure in possession, make him one of the strongest goalkeepers in the world and it’s easy to understand why Slot backs him so heavily, particularly with the additional leadership qualities he brings.
Before sustaining a hamstring injury in the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on October 5, Liverpool had conceded just three goals in the eight games Alisson had started. The previously rock-solid defence has opened up a little more in recent weeks, especially away from home, with eight goals conceded during trips to Newcastle, Southampton and Arsenal.
Alisson after getting injured against Palace in October (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Yet, until last week Alisson’s absence was hardly felt as Kelleher stepped up, like he has done so often in the past, and showed why he is worthy of his place in the team.
It’s no secret the 26-year-old Irishman wants to be a No 1, ideally at Liverpool, and aside from an isolated error in the 3-3 draw with Newcastle United last week, his form has backed up his ambition.
The penalty save from Kylian Mbappe during Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Real Madrid was the highlight in a run of 10 games in which Liverpool remained top of the Champions League table and extended their lead at the Premier League’s summit to four points, with a game in hand on their closest rivals Chelsea.
Kelleher made other big saves to keep important clean sheets against Manchester City, Aston Villa, RB Leipzig, and Bayer Leverkusen as Liverpool remained unbeaten in games he featured. He hasn’t looked out of place, either, and has regularly earned praise from Slot who describes his period in good as “outstanding”.
He certainly passes the eye test and is making more saves per game (3) than Alisson (2.5) in the Premier League this season, perhaps because Liverpool have faced more shots on goals in recent weeks.
Other statistics, although only a small sample size, show how Alisson is slightly ahead of his rival with a higher save percentage (88 per cent) than Kelleher (71 per cent) and a better passing accuracy (81 per cent) than his understudy (71 per cent).
Those passing figures only tell half of the story, though, as the graphics below highlight. Clearly, Kelleher is the more aggressive of the two goalkeepers with his distribution as he plays longer and more ambitious passes forward. Alisson tends to keep the ball moving more often between the centre-backs and plays only 14 per cent of “long” open play passes, compared to 25 per cent by Kelleher. He picks his moments to be ambitious more carefully.
The style of the opposition affects the goalkeepers’ decisions and can change week to week.
With Slot placing so much emphasis on building out from the back, the composure of the goalkeeper is key and both players are able to execute exactly what is asked of them.
The concern in more recent times when it comes to Alisson is how often he is picking up injuries. Last season, he played just 73 per cent of the Premier League campaign (10 games missed) — his lowest amount of minutes since joining from Roma in 2018 — and has already suffered two setbacks early into 2024-25.
What happens in the more future is unclear and leaves a lot for Liverpool to consider.
Alisson has turned down interest in Saudi Arabia for two summers in a row and still has two years left on his contract, plus another year’s option. A big-money bid at the right time may get the owners thinking, especially after spending £35million on Giorgi Mamardashvili, the man tipped to be Alisson’s long-term replacement.
Kelleher, meanwhile, will have just a year left in the summer so that might be the time for Liverpool to make as much money as they can.
What’s certain is that all three will not be around next season when Mamardashvili’s loan back to Valencia ends and he moves to Anfield — it is also certain that there will be no shortage of suitors for the fall guy.
If it is Kelleher, who is the most obvious option to leave unless circumstances change, it may become a decision Liverpool live to regret. This season, he has again proven his worth.
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(Top photo: Alisson and Kelleher, pictured last year; Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
