Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that, with Caoimhin Kelleher now fit, there is a plan in place for the Liverpool goalkeeper to rack up playing time.
It has been almost three months since a groin injury was discovered following Kelleher’s return to pre-season training at the AXA Training Centre, and the problem was overlooked by the Republic of Ireland.
The 23-year-old has been unable to join the team since then, with Adrian and Harvey Davies taking over the bench in his absence, while Alisson has started every competitive game.
But Kelleher was photographed in training on Thursday, ahead of Brighton’s visit in the Premier League, and in his pre-match press conference, Klopp detailed his situation.
The manager revealed his No. 62 will not be in the squad at Anfield, and a start for Liverpool’s Under-21s is planned instead.
“I think Caoimh will play this weekend, under-21, so he can have a match,” Klopp explained.
“Obviously it’s not his season yet. He was quite injured for a long time, but he looks good in training, he is completely fine”.
The Under-21s take on Arsenal at the AXA Training Center on Saturday, starting an hour before the first team, with Kelleher taking the place of 19-year-old Davies, who should make the Premier League squad.
It is not the first time that a senior player has dropped to the Under-21s this season and, in fact, it has been seen more regularly than usual.
Arthur started against Leicester in the league and Rochdale in the EFL Trophy, as he works his way to sharpness after missing pre-season with Juventus, while Nat Phillips and Fabio Carvalho also lined up against Leicester.
Towards the end of last season, there was also a departure for Harvey Elliott in a 4-0 thrashing of under-23 Leicester.
For Kelleher, the hope will be that there is no recurrence of his injury and he can rejoin the first team in the near future, with his sights set on starting against Derby in the Carabao Cup next month.
His last appearance for the Under-21s was in a 7-2 loss to Man City in November 2020.
