Caoimhin Kelleher is certainly showing Arne Slot the immense quality he possesses in what has been a superb start to his Brentfordcareer. The 27-year-old left Liverpool to join the Bees last summer in a £18million deal to mark the end of his 10-year spell at Anfield.
The Republic of Ireland international had made 67 first-team appearance for the Reds under Jurgen Klopp and Slot but usurping Alisson Becker as the club’s number one was a challenge he was unable to win.
With Liverpool agreeing to sign Giorgi Mamardashvili in 2024 for £29m in a deal that was officially finalised last summer, Kelleher’s time at Anfield looked to be coming to an end – and it was a move the Irishman wanted in order to progress his career.
Kelleher will certainly harbour no regrets about his decision to move to west London as he’s been ever-present in Brentford’s stellar season so far with the club sitting seventh in the Premier League table.
It was before the Bees’ first game of the season that the goalkeeper opened up about the fact that his desire to depart Merseyside had been playing on his mind for several years.
Speaking in an interview with The Telegraph, Kelleher said: “The summer before I came close-ish to leaving [Liverpool]. Then throughout the whole season I was wanting to be a No.1 and obviously the next, and probably best time for me to move was going to be this summer.
“So, I was just focusing on last season trying to do well and play well. As it goes more towards the end of the season, you’re thinking about the next year and the next season. It became apparent Brentford were interested in me – and I think once they registered their interest I was quite keen and things moved quite quickly then.
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The Irishman came out on top of in Brentford’s 3-2 win over Liverpool earlier this season(Image: PA)
“It plays in the back of your mind the whole season. I wanted to be a No.1 and wanted to do that for this season. To be fair, the last number of years, I was kind of more looking to get a move and to try being the No.1. So I don’t think it was a big thing for me whether it was this season or not.
“But I think the time, with one year left, added up to be right and the club obviously needed to make a decision as well and needed to sell.” Kelleher – who has made the most penalties saved in the league this season (2) – has also made the joint-fourth most saves (58) with his heroics seeing him earn huge praise by Ben Foster.
The ex-Manchester United stopper discussed Kelleher’s performances on talkSPORT back in November as he said: “He’s been phenomenal this season. I think what he’s been exposed to at Liverpool, because he played quite a few games at Liverpool. Don’t forget, Alisson had quite a few spells where he’s been out injured.
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Caoimhin Kelleher has become a fan favourite at Brentford (Image: Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
“I think the way he handled himself at Liverpool, for one, was phenomenal, absolutely brilliant performances, really calm and measured. But I think that comes off the back of one, obviously his character, I think that’s just how he is as a person anyway.
“But secondly, just being surrounded by Alisson as the no. 1 goalkeeper, getting to watch that week in, week out. Because if you watch him play, Alisson, he is the personification of calmness under pressure. Any moment, you know that he’s in full control of everything he’s doing.”