Caoimhin Kelleher is value his weight in gold for Liverpool, however the place does he rank among the many Reds’ greatest goalkeepers of the Premier League period?
With Alisson having succumbed to a different damage, Kelleher is having to fill in like final season, and he’s performing admirably.
The Irishman is arguably the strongest backup ‘keeper within the nation, with Arne Slot the envy of the league in the case of his deputy.
Right here’s the place we rank Kelleher amongst Liverpool’s 10 greatest stoppers because the Premier League began in 1992.
10. Chris Kirkland
Appearances: 45Clean sheets: 13
Chris Kirkland arrived at Liverpool in the summertime of 2001 as certainly one of British soccer’s hottest younger gamers.
He was tipped to be England’s No. 1 for the subsequent decade, and at age 11, his household positioned a £90 guess on him enjoying internationally, which he achieved as soon as in 2006.
Sadly, Kirkland by no means reached his potential, due partly to unhealthy luck with accidents, and he hardly ever felt like first-choice, regardless of moments of high quality.
He did begin the well-known 3-1 win at residence to Olympiakos within the Champions League, although.
9. Bruce Grobbelaar
Appearances: 45 (583 earlier than the PL)Clear sheets: 10 (257 earlier than the PL)
Bruce Grobbelaar is amongst Liverpool’s biggest goalkeepers in historical past, attaining a lot success within the Nineteen Eighties, together with profitable one European Cup and 6 league titles.
His greatest days had been behind him by the point the Premier League arrived, nevertheless, and an on-pitch combat with Steve McManaman at Everton in 1993 was his most important second from that point.
Nonetheless, he deserves a spot within the prime 10.
8. Brad Friedel
Appearances: 31Clean sheets: 7
Brad Friedel was a unbelievable ‘keeper for the likes of Tottenham and Blackburn, however it’s straightforward to overlook that Liverpool had been his first English membership.
The American needed to settle for enjoying second fiddle to David James throughout the late Nineteen Nineties, solely managing 31 appearances total.
In hindsight, the Reds could rue permitting him to go away for Blackburn in 2000, contemplating he went on to play 450 Premier League video games in complete.
7. Simon Mignolet
Appearances: 204Clean sheets: 66
Simon Mignolet had his detractors throughout his time at Liverpool, however he deserves to rank greater than Kirkland, Grobbelaar and Friedel due to longevity.
The Belgian was in objective throughout the memorable 2013/14 season, saving a late penalty from Stoke’s Jon Walters on his debut, and there have been instances when he was a key performer.
In the end, the signing of Alisson highlighted Mignolet’s shortcomings, however 55 appearances within the 2015/16 season exhibits his significance, and he was able to world-class saves.
6. Sander Westerveld
Appearances: 103Clean sheets: 42
Historical past hasn’t been type to Sander Westerveld, however there was a time when he was a key member of a treble-winning Liverpool facet.
The Dutchman performed an unbelievable 61 instances throughout that 2000/01 marketing campaign, because the Reds received the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup.
An terrible error away to Bolton early in 2001/02 proved to be a turning level, nevertheless, and Westerveld was swiftly moved on.
He was superior to Mignolet, although, even when he performed rather a lot much less typically.
5. David James
Appearances: 277Clean sheets: 102
Somewhat harshly, David James is remembered as a weak-link throughout the Nineteen Nineties, even gaining the nickname “Calamity James” for his error-prone nature.
There have been errors made, not least some unhealthy moments in opposition to Man United at Anfield, however he was a gifted participant who was extra constant than he was given credit score for.
James received the League Cup in 1995 and stored Friedel out of the workforce – very like the American, he enhanced his repute after leaving, having fun with spells with Aston Villa, West Ham, Man Metropolis and Portsmouth.
4. Jerzy Dudek
Appearances: 186Clean sheets: 77
Jerzy Dudek’s heroics in Istanbul will eternally make him a Liverpool legend, along with his penalty antics and that save to disclaim Andriy Shevchenko in extra-time in opposition to AC Milan, etching his identify into Reds folklore.
Whereas the Pole did have a mistake in him – ask Diego Forlan! – he was most popular to Kirkland for a purpose and was excellent within the 2003 League Cup ultimate.
Dudek earned the person of the match award in Cardiff, making numerous saves in opposition to Man United, and he ought to at all times be remembered as a great Liverpool goalkeeper.
3. Caoimhin Kelleher
Appearances: 52Clean sheets: 17
We’ve received Kelleher in at No. 3 on Liverpool’s listing of greatest Premier League ‘keepers – does that appear truthful?
To have the 25-year-old forward of a few of these named above speaks volumes about how good he’s, and he would stroll into loads of present Premier League sides.
Sadly for Liverpool, Kelleher will certainly be weighing up his future following the signing of Giorgi Mamardashvili, however he deserves common soccer in a prime workforce.
His performances within the absence of Alisson might be so necessary come the tip of the season.
2. Pepe Reina
Appearances: 394Clean sheets: 177
After a string of divisive goalkeepers, a lot of whom are talked about above, Pepe Reina felt like a coup when he joined from Villarreal in 2005.
Good on the ball, a robust reader of play and an skilled shot-stopper, he was an important participant underneath Rafa Benitez and helped Liverpool change into certainly one of Europe’s greatest groups between 2006 and 2009.
Reina’s latter years damage his legacy, not least a penchant for getting overwhelmed too simply at his close to submit, however he was an elite goalkeeper at his greatest.
1. Alisson
Appearances: 271Clean sheets: 117
There’s a chasm in school between Alisson and every other Liverpool goalkeeper from the previous 30 years.
Since 2018, the Reds have had the world’s greatest stopper of their ranks – the signings of him and Virgil van Dijk in the identical 12 months reworked the Reds underneath Jurgen Klopp.
In a single-on-one conditions, solely Peter Schmeichel can lay declare to being nearly as good in the case of the Premier League period, and Alisson‘s biggest power is making the whole lot look easy.
At 32 years outdated, he stays nearly as good as ever, even when accidents are a priority, and he’ll hopefully stay at Anfield for a very long time.
