Arne Slot has addressed Caoimhin Kelleher’s recent comments expressing frustration over his current situation at Liverpool. Kelleher, speaking during international duty with the Republic of Ireland, voiced his disappointment that Liverpool rejected Nottingham Forest’s second bid for him, which could have seen him join the Forest squad for their match against Liverpool this weekend.
Liverpool decided to keep Kelleher until the summer of 2024, when they expect Giorgi Mamardashvili to arrive from Valencia. The club wanted to avoid being short of goalkeeping options during this period.
Slot, who is Liverpool’s head coach, responded to Kelleher’s public statement by saying he would be more concerned if a player expressed contentment with being a benchwarmer. “I would be really worried if a player came out and said, ‘I don’t care about playing first-team football. I like it so much on the bench that I want to stay there for the rest of my life.’ Slot explained that it would worry him more.”
He added, “It’s normal for players to want to play, but it’s also normal for a club competing for trophies to have more than 11 players who can contribute. As long as players accept their roles, help the team whenever needed, and stay ready, it’s a positive situation. Caoimhin has shown he’s ready when called upon, both in past seasons and in pre-season.”
Regarding Kelleher’s future at Liverpool, Slot emphasized that while Alisson remains the club’s No 1 goalkeeper, Kelleher’s desire to play is a normal part of a player’s career. “It’s clear that Alisson is the No 1 at the moment, but Kelleher has proven his readiness and professionalism,” Slot added.
Slot also provided updates on other squad matters. He confirmed that Alexis MacAllister will play against Nottingham Forest despite picking up a knock during international duty with Argentina. “He trained yesterday and I’m expecting him to be available for tomorrow,” Slot said.
However, Harvey Elliott will be out until the end of October due to a broken foot. Which Slot described as a significant blow for both the player and the team. “It’s a big disappointment for Harvey, and for us as well. He was showing great form in pre-season and could have played a key role in the upcoming fixtures. His absence is unfortunate, but it opens up opportunities for others,” Slot noted.
On Federico Chiesa, Slot indicated that the forward could feature in the game against Forest. “Federico has trained well during the international break, so we’ll see how he performs today and make a decision accordingly. We have over 20 players to choose from,” Slot said.
Leave a Reply