Should Alisson really be “embarrassed” by Kelleher situation? Liverpool goalkeepers’ 2024-25 form compared | OneFootball

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson could return from injury immediately after the international break.

The Brazilian has been out of action since the October international break, picking up a hamstring injury in Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace. Vitezslav Jaros was the man to replace Alisson at Selhurst Park as Caoimhin Kelleher was ill, but the Irishman been Alisson’s replacement during his time on the sidelines.

Kelleher was previously dubbed the best backup goalkeeper in the world by former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp. And he has once again proven the German right.

But now there’s a dilemma. When Alisson returns after the international break, does he immediately regain his spot as starting goalkeeper? Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge doesn’t believe so.

“Caoimhin Kelleher has been magnificent and I actually think Arne Slot has got a really big decision to make in the next few weeks. Once Alisson is fit, I don’t think it’s fair if Kelleher gets demoted to the bench,” he wrote in his column for the Liverpool Echo.

“I think he’s been absolutely first-class. He’s been faultless with everything he has done in the games, and I think Ali will be looking at it and be embarrassed if he went back in because he’s done such a good job.

“So it’s a big dilemma what he does in that position. Just say, for instance, Ben Doak had come in when Mohamed Salah was injured last season and scored 10 goals in five games. What would you do? Put Mo straight back in?

“It’s sleepless nights because football always used to be that if you were scoring goals, you stayed in the team. If you’re keeping clean sheets, you stay in the team.

“It’s going to be really interesting and it’s going to be difficult for the manager.”

So, what should Arne Slot do?

Across all competitions, Liverpool had seven games to navigate without Alisson between the sticks. This included games against Chelsea and Arsenal in the Premier League as well as a showdown with Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. Liverpool finished that run of fixtures with six wins from seven, only drawing against Arsenal.

Kelleher placed six of those matches across all competitions, keeping three clean sheets and conceding four goals. Jaros played Brighton in the EFL Cup, a 3-2 win for Liverpool.

In the Premier League, Kelleher has played one fewer game than Alisson this season, but they are close enough that you can make a fair comparison.

Per our Squawka Score, Allison does slightly edge Kelleher this season, rated at 68% compared to the Irishman’s 65%. While Kelleher has had to make more saves at 3 per 90 minutes to Alisson’s 2.55, the Brazilian is preventing more goals. Per 90 minutes, Alisson has prevented 0.45 goals in the Premier League, compared to Kelleher’s 0.25.

Kelleher’s best game for preventing goals came in Alisson’s first injury spell in September, keeping a clean sheet against Bournemouth despite facing 1.53 Expected Goals on Target. Alisson also prevented 1.13 goals in a clean sheet against Crystal Palace before having to go off.

But the crucial difference is that Alisson has prevented goals in five games, compared to Kelleher’s two. Kelleher’s other net positive game came against Aston Villa last time out, which included two fantastic saves from close range. But even then he ended with “just” 0.61 goals prevented.

On the other end of the scale, Kelleher is in the negative for goals prevented in three matches compared to Alisson’s one. Kelleher’s worst game in that regard came against Brighton in the league, when he conceded one goal from an xGOT of 0.5.

Kelleher does also better Alisson for long passing accuracy, completing an average of 3.6 per 90 minutes with 28.57% accuracy. In those same metrics, Alisson has completed 2.3 long passes per 90 with 27.66% accuracy. But when it comes to overall passing, Alisson is better. More comfortable with the ball at his feet, Alisson has completed 81.54% of his total passes for Liverpool this season, compared to Kelleher’s 71.95%.

Even when looking at the most basic stats, goals conceded and clean sheets, Alisson comes out better there. Of course, opposition will influence that and Kelleher did play some tough teams.

But while Kelleher has been a good deputy for Alisson, it wouldn’t be completely unbelievable — or embarrassing — if the Brazilian does come straight back in. If you’ve got one of the best goalkeepers in the world in your team, you’re going to play them.