“You can’t help but think of the mistake.”
Damien Delaney didn’t mince his words when assessing Caoimhin Kelleher’s performance for Liverpool in their Europa League tie against Toulouse.
The Irish goalie has been playing in the number one spot for the Reds’ European and Caraboa Cup games this season, meaning that he has been getting more football than usual.
However, despite Jurgen Klopp’s men blowing their opposition away 5-1, with new boy Ryan Gravenberch running the show from midfield, Kelleher made one notable mistake that’s hard to ignore.
Early in the first half the Irishman fluffed a clearance that left the goal wide open, and the Toulouse player merely had Trent Alexander Arnold to beat, but the defender positioned himself well and was able to deflect the shot wide.
Speaking on Virgin Media after the game, Delaney was pretty critical of the keeper in this situation
“[He had] very little do, but you can’t help but think of the mistake.
“He’s a goalkeeper that is getting few chances and he can’t make mistakes like he made the one that was taken off the line.
“When you’re a young goalkeeper trying to make your way in the game, you can’t do stuff like that. It’s just a moment of panic.
“For a goalkeeper that’s supposed to be so good with his feet, perhaps have a touch there or there’s nothing wrong with getting it out for a throw-in. He just slashes at it and Trent saves his blushes, or that attacker does I suppose with the miss.
“You can’t make those mistakes if you’re a goalkeeper at a club like Liverpool if you want to get more minutes and more games. He is pushing on in age now; perhaps it is time to get out and play regular football.
‘It is difficult [to come in after long absences], but you have to do it. He has obviously chosen to stay there, be number two and accept that he is going to play in cup games.
“You can’t make those mistakes. He needs to learn quickly that when you are given those chances you need to be flawless, you have to be perfect.”
Many thought that Kelleher would leave last summer in the hope to get more first team football, but it looks like the promise of starting the Europa League games convinced him to stay at Liverpool.
Related links:
- Caoimhin Kelleher saves Liverpool from embarrassing Europa League defeat
- Wolves target Liverpool and Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher
- Shay Given gives his opinion on where Caoimhin Kelleher should go next
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