On Sunday, Newcastle ended a 70-year trophy drought by overcoming Liverpool at Wembley.
The loss added to a disappointing week for Arne Slot’s team, who were knocked out of the Champions League in a dramatic penalty shootout against Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield in the round of 16. ..Continue Reading
In the aftermath of the defeat, speculation has arisen that one prominent player might not feature for the Reds again, with rumors of a significant summer transfer circulating.
Caoimhin Kelleher, Liverpool’s second-choice goalkeeper, was selected to start in the Carabao Cup final, as is tradition in domestic cup competitions.
However, he could do little to prevent Dan Burn and Alexander Isak from securing Newcastle’s victory.
With Liverpool already eliminated from the FA Cup, Kelleher may not see any more action this season, as Alisson Becker is expected to retain his position in goal as the Reds focus on the Premier League title race.
With just nine games left in the season, the 26-year-old’s departure in the summer appears increasingly likely, making Sunday’s defeat potentially his last match in Liverpool colors.
If Kelleher decides to leave, The Sun has reported that Bournemouth is leading the race to secure his services.
The Cherries are reportedly confident of completing the deal, as they prepare to replace Kepa Arrizabalaga when he returns to Chelsea at the end of his loan spell.
Chelsea, Newcastle, and Tottenham Hotspur are also rumored to be interested in Kelleher, potentially sparking a bidding war among Premier League clubs.
Should he express a desire to leave, Liverpool is expected to facilitate his transfer, especially with Giorgi Mamardashvili anticipated to arrive as part of the club’s future plans.
Explaining why Kelleher was handed a start at Wembley, Liverpool manager Slot said: “It wasn’t difficult.
“It was only once when I played Alisson [in the League Cup] and that was only when he had been out injured and needed playing time to be back to his best. For all the other games, we have played the second choice.
“That was Jaros when Caoimhin was the No.1. Caoimhin has always done so well so deserves to play in this one.”
