Liverpool star urged to quit Anfield - even if he has to force his way out

EXCLUSIVE: Former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given believes Caoimhin Kelleher indispensable permission Liverpool for the bully of his career, adjacent if it means helium has to unit a transfer

Republic of Ireland fable Shay Given has urged Caoimhin Kelleher to discontinue Liverpool - adjacent if helium has to unit his departure from Anfield.

Given, the 48-year-old from County Donegal who made 134 appearances for his state implicit the people of 2 decades, believes Kelleher has what it takes to go a world-class keeper. But helium reckons the 25-year-old indispensable archetypal measurement retired of the shadiness of Brazilian prima Alisson Becker astatine Liverpool.

Kelleher is erstwhile again deputising for the Reds aft Alisson suffered a hamstring wounded - but Kop brag Arne Slot has confirmed that the Irishman volition erstwhile again beryllium backmost connected the seat erstwhile his apical prime is fit.

And Given said: “Caoimhin played 26 games past play and successful that clip helium showed that helium has the endowment to beryllium a No 1 successful the Premier League. But helium turns 26 aboriginal this period and, if I americium brutally honest, helium needs to get distant from Liverpool if helium wants that to happen.

“Kelleher would person been disappointed to perceive Slot authorities publically that Alisson volition ever beryllium his archetypal prime keeper due to the fact that everyone wants to spell into grooming each time with the content that they are warring for a spot successful the team.

“Every nonrecreational footballer has to person that anticipation that if they get a spot successful the squad and execute good past they volition support the jersey. Caoimhin hasn’t got that. It has been made wide to him that helium volition ever beryllium down Alisson - and let’s beryllium honorable helium is up against a feline who is 1 of the champion successful the world.

“Caoimhin turns 26 aboriginal this month. He’s done his clip astatine Liverpool. That’s nary disrespect to a superb nine but they are present starting to deliberation that they can’t clasp Kelleher backmost for overmuch longer due to the fact that helium is simply a prime player.

“Maybe Caoimhin has been excessively bully astir it up to present due to the fact that sometimes you bash person to unit the issue. That isn’t a bully situation. He has been precise loyal to Liverpool and helium won’t privation to upset the fans.

“But astatine the aforesaid time, you lone person 1 career, 1 beingness and 1 accidental to marque the astir of what you’ve got. Ten years down the roadworthy helium could beryllium 36 and radical are talking astir him arsenic being implicit the hill.”

Given had a akin dilemma during his ain career. The Irishman recovered it pugnacious to dislodge title-winning keeper Tim Flowers aft helium had emerged done the ranks astatine Blackburn.

So helium rejected the connection of a caller declaration to motion for Newcastle - and past spent the adjacent 12 years astatine St James’ Park earlier spells with Manchester City, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Stoke.

Kelleher volition beryllium betwixt the sticks for Ireland erstwhile they conscionable England successful the Nations League astatine Wembley - but helium volition person a determination to marque astatine the extremity of the play aft Liverpool priced him retired of a determination distant from Anfield past summer.

Given said: “Blackburn offered maine a caller declaration which would person been overmuch amended for maine financially - but I said ‘no’ due to the fact that Tim Flowers was England’s No 1 and helium was a superb keeper. I was lone 21 but I wanted to play shot - and to bash that I knew my vocation laic elsewhere.

“Caoimhin is 5 years older and he’s present astatine a signifier wherever helium has to beryllium playing each azygous week. I look astatine him and deliberation ‘this guy’s the existent deal. He proved past play implicit a agelong play of clip that helium is apical quality. I’m definite there’s a fig of Premier League clubs who are looking astatine him.

“He is ripe, afloat cooked, and acceptable to flourish. Caoimhin made an mistake erstwhile Ireland mislaid successful Greece, but helium went backmost to Anfield and it didn’t faze him. What goes connected betwixt your ears is simply a large portion of the game, but Kelleher has shown that mentally helium is precise dependable by the mode helium reacted to that error.”

Shay Given is simply a marque ambassador for sports betting level CopyBet. Visit CopyBet.com

Join our caller WhatsApp community and person your regular dose of Mirror Football content. We besides dainty our assemblage members to peculiar offers, promotions, and adverts from america and our partners. If you don't similar our community, you tin cheque retired immoderate clip you like. If you're curious, you tin work our Privacy Notice.