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Danny Murphy ‘understands’ a Liverpool player will be leaving in the summer and has tipped him to join Chelsea or Newcastle United.
‘Outstanding’ goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has struggled for game-time since Liverpool No. 1 Alisson Becker returned to fitness in early December.
Alisson missed two months of football through injury and Kelleher, 26, impressed in his absence, helping Liverpool climb to the top of both the Premier League and Champions League.
Kelleher saved a Kylian Mbappe penalty in Liverpool’s victory over Real Madrid at the end of November – one of three clean sheets he kept in the Champions League.
Murphy says Kelleher is too good to sit on the bench and will leave Anfield in the summer ahead of the arrival of new Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Liverpool agreed a £29m deal to sign Mamardashvili from Valencia last summer but the Georgia shot-stopper is not arriving on Merseyside until the summer.
Mamardashvili’s move looks set to push Kelleher out the door and Murphy believes the ‘outstanding’ goalkeeper should target a move to Chelsea or Newcastle.
Robert Sanchez has been Chelsea’s No. 1 this season but has flattered to deceive at Stamford Bridge, with several pundits of the opinion that he needs to be upgraded for the Blues to challenge for major trophies.
The same has been said for Nick Pope and Martin Dubravka at Newcastle as the Magpies attempt to go to another level and bring silverware to St James’ Park.
‘I think next season at Liverpool we will have Alisson starting and Giorgi Mamardashvili on the bench with Caoimhin Kelleher leaving,’ the former Liverpool and England midfielder told OLBG.
‘My understanding is that Kelleher will leave and there won’t be short of takers, he is an outstanding goalkeeper and deserves the chance to go and be a number one.
‘I think he will get a really good move and Alisson will have a season in front of Mamardashvili to help him learn and get settled.
‘Where could Kelleher go? Well, I think Chelsea’s an obvious one, although I think Robert Sanchez is improving hugely.
‘I think he gets some unfair criticism for a few mistakes here in the season. I think he’s actually a really good goalkeeper.
‘He just gets a bit nervous at times with the ball at his feet. But Chelsea’s an obvious one and I think probably Newcastle, if they’re thinking of evolving as a club and becoming more competitive.
‘Nick Pope has been a great keeper over the years but having more injuries at the minute and he’s not the best with his feet. He’ll admit that himself.
‘I think for Kelleher, Newcastle or Chelsea are two wonderful options for him.’
Kelleher has made 61 appearances for Liverpool since graduating from the club’s academy and making his first-team debut in 2020.
The Republic of Ireland international was on the bench on Saturday as Liverpool scored two late goals to beat Brentford 2-0.
Arne Slot’s side looked set to drop points in the title race for the third game in a row but Darwin Nunez scored two injury-time goals to hand Liverpool a crucial away win.
With Arsenal only drawing 2-2 with Aston Villa later in the day, Liverpool find themselves six points clear at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand.
‘During the season you’re hoping for these moments,’ Slot said after the Brentford victory.
‘Many moments – we could have scored a late winner against United, Forest, Fulham. Today it worked. We managed to score in the last few seconds.
‘We were close to not getting what we deserved. The amount of chances we created was like on Tuesday against Forest – a lot.
‘We were close to going off without a win. That combined with a late winner is what we were most happy about. And it was a significant game.’
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