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Liverpool's unexpected slump this season has left many puzzled, with the club's summer transfer dealings being closely examined. The current Premier League champions appear to be in disarray, sparking questions about their assertive recruitment approach.
Liverpool set records with their summer acquisitions, introducing talents such as Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, both of whom are still acclimatizing to life at Anfield. Some commentators suggest that these new arrivals may have upset the balance for manager Arne Slot, while others question the decision to let certain players leave.
Among those who left was Caoimhin Kelleher, who transferred to Brentford, while Giorgi Mamardashvili finally completed his long-awaited move from Valencia to Liverpool.
This shift in personnel could be proving expensive for the Reds, particularly considering Alisson Becker's injury woes which have thrust Mamardashvili directly into the spotlight. The lack of Kelleher's reliable presence as a reserve keeper is sorely missed, a sentiment shared by former Premier League goalkeeper Ben Foster.
In a conversation with TalkSPORT, Foster included Kelleher in his top five Premier League goalkeepers, alongside Alisson, Emi Martinez of Aston Villa, Arsenal's David Raya and Manchester City's Gianluigi Donnarumma. The ex-goalkeeper was lavish in his praise for Kelleher.
He expressed: "He's [Caoimhin Kelleher] been phenomenal this season. I think what he's been exposed to at Liverpool, because he played quite a few games at Liverpool. Don't forget, Alisson had quite a few spells where he's been out injured. I think the way he handled himself at Liverpool, for one, was phenomenal, absolutely brilliant performances, really calm and measured.
"But I think that comes off the back of one, obviously his character, I think that's just how he is as a person anyway, but secondly, just being surrounded by Alisson as the number one goalkeeper, getting to watch that week in, week out. Because if you watch him play, Alisson, he is the personification of calmness under pressure. Any moment, you know that he's in full control of everything he's doing.
"I think Caoimhin's had this chance to be able to really watch him and learn from the best in that position. It kind of reminds me a little bit of my time when I was at Man United with Edwin van der Sar, same sort of thing. I didn't make it at Man United at the time, one, because I had Van der Sar in front of me where you just think, 'My gosh, you're so good, honestly, you're so, so good.'".
"He's in control of everything, he's so calm, but when I did leave Man United, I was so well-equipped to deal with the rest of my career, it set me up for the rest of my career, and I think that's the same thing that's happened with Caoimhin."
It's exactly that calm demeanor that Liverpool have been missing at crucial moments this season, with games becoming overly frantic and creating opportunities for both sides.
While the problems may stretch beyond simply having that reassuring and assured presence in goal, it's a factor that could prove invaluable once Alisson regains full fitness.
Kelleher has appeared 11 times for Brentford following his summer move to the club, with every appearance coming in the Premier League.
The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper has managed two clean sheets, conceding 17 goals during that spell, as the Bees have started to find their groove in recent fixtures. Foster isn't the only ex-keeper to sing Kelleher's praises regarding his professional approach.
Shay Given also offered his thoughts in conversations with The Times, stating: "The good thing about Caoimhin is that he never gets too hard on himself when he does make a mistake or carried away when he saves a penalty, like he did against Ronaldo in the last game.
"He is still so calm and level-headed," he added. It's a trait that Liverpool enjoyed for an extended spell, as the 26 year old played his part in multiple trophy triumphs during his time at the club.
Currently, he's creating a stir at Brentford and on international duty with the Republic of Ireland, even assisting them in clinching a play-off place for the 2026 World Cup during November's international fixtures. The Reds might regret his departure, as his desire for more game time has seen him continue to excel.
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