Alisson Becker or Caoimhin Kelleher: Who ought to be Liverpool supervisor Arne Slot’s first-choice goalkeeper?

Alisson Becker is nearing full health after damage, that means Arne Slot will quickly need to determine between the Brazilian and his understudy Caoimhin Kelleher – so which goalkeeper ought to the Liverpool supervisor ought to go together with?

Alisson tore his hamstring in the course of the closing levels of Liverpool’s 1-0 win at Crystal Palace on October 5 and solely not too long ago returned to gentle coaching, with Slot confirming he and his medical workers would take a cautious strategy to his restoration.

“We’re careful with everyone when it comes to muscles,” stated the Dutchman, who was coy on whether or not Alisson can be in rivalry for the go to of Premier League champions Manchester Metropolis to Anfield on Tremendous Sunday.

“He is back in training with goalkeeper coach and not training with the team, but that is expected soon. Let’s wait and see where he is in terms of match fitness, getting better and better but not ready.”

Slot doesn’t must rush Alisson again into motion, although, with Liverpool unbeaten in all competitions throughout his seven-week absence and high of each the Premier League and Champions League tables.

Not solely that, however Kelleher has as soon as once more carried out to such a excessive stage whereas standing in for Alisson there may be now an actual argument to be made that he deserves to retain his place in objective even when the Brazil worldwide has absolutely recovered from damage.

What do the stats say, then, in regards to the two shot-stoppers’ respective strengths and weaknesses and what different elements will Slot and Liverpool’s new goalkeeping coach Fabian Otte be contemplating when making this powerful name?

How do their temperament & expertise evaluate?

Each gamers have excellent temperaments – in reality, they’re recognized for being unflappable characters who you hardly ever see ruffled even when below essentially the most excessive pressures.

And there aren’t any extra excessive pressures for a goalkeeper than a penalty shoot-out, with no Liverpool ‘keeper having saved extra spot kicks than Kelleher’s six in such conditions – the Reds have additionally received all 4 League Cup shoot-outs he is been concerned in – whereas the Irishman scored the decisive penalty within the Reds’ dramatic 11-10 shoot-out win towards Chelsea within the 2021/22 Carabao Cup closing, earlier than being named participant of the match towards the identical opponents in final season’s closing.

Not solely that, however Kelleher was at it once more on Wednesday evening when saving Kylian Mbappe’s penalty in Liverpool’s 2-0 win towards Actual Madrid within the Champions League – as he additionally did to maintain out spot kicks from Southampton’s Adam Armstrong, though he scored from the rebound, and Finland’s Joel Pohjanpalo this month.

Alisson additionally helped Liverpool edge Chelsea in a penalty shoot-out to assert the 2021/22 FA Cup closing, though it’s onerous to match the 32-year-old relating to precise on-field expertise.

The hirsute ‘keeper has made nearly 500 appearances for Internacional, Roma and Liverpool since 2013 and has additionally been capped 71 instances by Brazil throughout nearly a decade, whereas additionally successful nearly each trophy attainable since shifting to Anfield for a world-record £67m payment in 2018.

In distinction, the 26-year-old Kelleher has received simply 26 caps for the Republic of Eire since making his worldwide debut over three years in the past, whereas Alison’s presence because the Reds’ No 1 has additionally restricted him to solely 56 appearances in all competitions in 5 years on the membership, nearly half of which got here final season.

Alisson leaves Reds hamstrung once more

Usually, you’d count on your first-choice goalkeeper to play all 38 Premier League video games a season, which Alisson did in his debut marketing campaign at Anfield.

Nonetheless, the Brazilian has failed to succeed in that quantity in his 5 accomplished seasons since, sustaining a long-term calf concern simply 39 minutes into the Reds’ 2019-20 title-winning marketing campaign that sidelined him for seven league video games, earlier than struggling hip and shoulder issues the next season.

In the meantime earlier this 12 months, Alisson tore his hamstring in coaching, preserving him out of motion for an additional seven top-flight matches and to this point this marketing campaign, he has additionally missed 5 league contests with the identical damage.

In distinction, Kelleher – six years Alisson’s junior – has been largely damage free since making his Liverpool debut in September 2019, aside from a two-month absence with a hamstring pull firstly of the 2022/23 season.

Jeepers ‘keepers

An enormous half now of any fashionable goalkeeper’s armoury is their potential with the ball at their toes, a skillset Alisson has all the time excelled at since arriving on Merseyside, which is why he’s considered by many consultants as one among, if not essentially the most full goalkeepers on the earth sport.

Being Brazilian, the 32-year-old has all the time been comfy when requested to function as a sweeper-keeper, a lot so he even has three league assists to his title throughout his Reds profession, in addition to a memorable objective to assist his workforce to an important late win at West Bromwich Albion in Might 2021.

In latest seasons, although, the odd uncharacteristic error has crept into this a part of Alisson’s sport, as seen when he gifted Vinicius Junior an equaliser in a last-16 Champions League conflict with Actual at Anfield in February 2023, earlier than being at fault for Gabriel Martinelli’s objective in February’s essential 3-1 loss at title rivals Arsenal.

As compared, extremely some 32 per cent of all Kelleher’s touches in Premier League video games have come exterior his field, though his passing has been simply barely inferior to Alisson’s to this point this season [72.13% pass completion rate compared to 81.54%], that means Liverpool lose nothing on this regard with the Irishman between the sticks.

What do the general stats say?

Certain, the likes of temperament, expertise, availability and ball-playing potential are all key components that kind a part of the fashionable goalkeeper, however in the end what actually issues when assessing shot-stoppers is strictly that, their potential to maintain the ball out of the online.

In that regard, each gamers have began six instances within the league this season, with Alisson conceding simply two objectives to Kelleher’s six, with three clear sheets to his title, yet one more than the Republic of Eire worldwide has managed.

In these six encounters, Alisson confronted 17 photographs, making 15 saves, with an 88.2 save share whereas stopping 2.7 objectives within the course of, compared to his back-up who has confronted 23 photographs, making 18 stops with a save share of 73.9 in stopping 1.1 objectives.

Finally, although, it’s when throughout a match a save is made that may have an effect on its consequence as preserving out a objective with the rating 1-0 is quite a bit totally different to doing so with the scoreline 3-0, as seen when Kelleher not too long ago made world-class stops to disclaim Brighton’s Georginio Rutter, adopted by Aston Villa’s Amadou Onana and Diego Carlos, to assist safe slim Liverpool wins.

And for those who had been to develop this metric out to all competitions, then Kelleher truly has prevented 4.5 objectives in 10 video games, in comparison with Alisson’s 2.6 in his eight matches, with crucially neither participant having made an error resulting in a objective in any fixture this marketing campaign.

Will Alisson ‘Slot’ straight again into Liverpool’s line-up?

Slot has been unequivocal all alongside about his goalkeeping pecking order, confirming after Liverpool’s victory over Villa earlier than the worldwide break: “Alisson is, and will likely be, our first goalkeeper if he’s match.

“Caoimhin has done outstanding last season and this season again as well. But the moment Alisson will be fit he will be our first goalkeeper.”

And despite Kelleher crucially saving Mbappe’s spot kick at Anfield on Wednesday – prompting former Liverpool forward Steve McManaman to say on commentary: “Kelleher’s not a No 2, he is a No 1 in equal proper” – the Reds boss reiterated his stance: “Each resolution is a tough one however I believe I’ve been clear about that. However tonight ought to be about Caoimhin being so necessary for us.

“It was a big moment for him. You see Mbappe behind the ball and I thought what everyone thought, ‘this will probably go in’. But he saved it. A special moment for Caoimhin. That should be the headline rather than what I was clear about a few weeks ago.”

Nonetheless, when it comes to each the precise eye take a look at – Kelleher has impressed drastically when protecting for Alisson for prolonged spells final season and this – and the precise uncooked information, there’s a sturdy argument to be made Liverpool would lose nothing by preserving religion with the Irishman and going with the age-old mantra of ‘by no means change a successful workforce’.

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