Each time he arrives at Liverpool’s training HQ, Caoimhin Kelleher stares into the faces of the club’s goalkeeping legends. Directly behind the pitch at the practice ground in Kirkby is a mural celebrating the great Anfield number one’s and the trophies they won, strategically positioned so current and future generations are reminded of the expectations upon them.
By Sunday night, Kelleher hopes the local artist responsible, John Culshaw, will be commissioned to add a layer to his masterpiece.
“Maybe I can get myself on there as well,” says the 23-year-old, dreaming of celebrating after Sunday’s Carabao Cup Final.
“It is nice when you go training to be having a look at that every day. It is a good inspiration for us when we are training every day in front of it. It would be quite cool and special (to be on it). There are absolute legends up on that wall so to be up there would be an honour for me.”
The artwork was the idea of Liverpool’s goalkeeper coach John Achterberg. Shaping Kelleher into a keeper capable of deputising for Alisson Becker in a Wembley final has been a longer-term project.
“I have a lot to thank John for,” says the Irishman.
“Ever since I came here he has been brilliant with me. He saw something in me since I came into first team training and he brought me on in leaps and bounds. I know for sure I would not be here if it was not for him.
“Coming over obviously I had some talent but everything needed to be worked on and John worked really hard to develop every aspect of my game. He wants a goalkeeper, and especially a goalkeeper for Liverpool, who is very good in every area so he has developed every aspect of my game and tried to get them to a good level.
“All the goalkeeper coaches have, to be fair. I have a lot to thank Jack Robinson for, too, and now (Claudio) Taffarel. It is a top level of coaching I am getting every day.
“I have had belief in myself since I came over that I can do it, but it has taken a lot of hard work and a lot of coaching sessions to bring me on. I am nowhere near the highest level yet. I think I have a long way to go if I want to reach that, but I’ve always had belief in myself that I can play here and obviously playing games for the first team and performing relatively well gives you the extra boost of confidence that you are good enough. Now I need to push on and keep going.”
‘There will be some nerves on Sunday. But a little bit of nerves are good’
Such sentiments explain why Kelleher seems in no rush to leave Anfield. Given Alisson’s status and anticipated longevity, the youngster knows the day may come to look beyond Liverpool in order to be an established number one in the Premier League. Kelleher says he modelled his style on German legend Manuel Neuer as a youngster. Long-term, he wants to become Ireland’s number one and follow boyhood hero Shay Given. For now, he sounds content continuing his goalkeeping education under Alisson.
“I don’t really think too much about that at the minute,” he says.
“I’ve a cup final to look forward to, and other games as well. I’m just focusing on them and trying to be the best I can in those games. If I do well and perform well we can look at what is next for me but at the minute I just want to keep performing well this season and see where that takes me. Then at the end of the season see what the next plan is.”
