WagwanvibesCaoimhin Kelleher has opened up on his decision to leave Liverpool and working with Mohamed Salah and Alisson Becker
Mohamed Salah warms up during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Sunderland at Anfield
Mohamed Salah warms up during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Sunderland at Anfield
Mohamed Salah continues to endure a difficult campaign for Liverpool as he struggles to replicate the heights of his previous years with the Reds. The forward, who won both the Premier League Golden Boot and Playmaker awards last season, has returned four goals and two assists from 13 appearances in the English top-flight.
His performances have been the subject of increasing scrutiny as a result, with the 33-year-old finding himself criticised for his defensive work-rate and declining returns in front of goal.
With Liverpool enduring a below-par season under Arne Slot, losing nine of their last 14 matches in all competitions, the Dutchman made headlines by benching Salah for last weekend’s win away at West Ham United and the midweek draw with Sunderland.
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It remains to be seen if Salah, who will depart for the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt later this month, will be recalled to the Liverpool starting XI away at Leeds United on Saturday.
But former Reds goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has offered a reminder of his old team-mate’s qualities as he lifted the lid on the work Salah puts in behind the scenes to stay on top of game – teasing his finishing abilities were even bad for his confidence.
“In training, Mohamed Salah was bad for my confidence for the goals he would score,” Kelleher said when speaking on Fozcast. “He was just unbelievable.
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“His finishing is a bit different to the usual striker, someone like Jermaine Defoe, who would be quite clinical.
“Salah’s quality is his timing of knowing when to shoot, where to place it and how to finish it – he can be quite unorthodox, but he’s an incredible man and such a humble guy, especially for someone who is such a big star.
“He’s the hardest working player, especially in the gym, he’ll be the first one in the building and it would be rare that someone would get in before him.”
Kelleher left Liverpool for Brentford in a deal worth up to £18m in the summer as he called time on his Reds career to pursue starting opportunities elsewhere.
While the Republic of Ireland international was well-aware such a status would not be forthcoming at Anfield, where Alisson Becker remains Liverpool’s first-choice goalkeeper, he still concedes he learned a lot from working alongside the Brazilian despite his limited game-time.
Caoimhin Kelleher and Alisson Becker
Caoimhin Kelleher has competed with Alisson Becker throughout his Liverpool career.
“It was a number of things. They came in quite quickly when the season was done, and they really wanted me,” he said when explaining why he chose to join Brentford. “Which itself was a big thing for me for a club to really want me to be their number one.
“I’m going there to be the number one, I’m going to play every game – that’s not in doubt. I don’t have to be in competition maybe I go to another club where there’s a goalkeeper there who is number one already and you’ve got to fight for it.
“That was important for me – I’ve never been that number one before, so to come in and be that number one straight away was important for my development.
“Brentford are really good at developing players, to push them on to that next level. Their track record of goalkeepers as well recently has been really good, obviously they’ve had David Raya and Mark Flekken recently who were really good. I was looking at that stuff as well, and it all added up.
“It’s amazing to play in every game, but it’s a change in psyche as well. When I was at Liverpool, I played maybe 10 games [in a season], but I know there was an end to that.
“I know that when Alisson is back, I’m coming out. It’s also things like training, looking after myself, trying to find out what I need every week to be ready to perform.
“That’s taken some getting used to. I’ve had four or five years on the bench, so I’m loving it – my mood every day is so happy.”
He continued: “I came up to the first team the year he (Alisson) joined – that was my first full season. So, I was lucky that as soon as he came, I was training every day with him.
“He was incredible. For me, he’s the best. He’s special at everything. He can make amazing saves, and he can also get a load of assists.
“That [staying calm] is something I’ve learned from him – just watching him. You see he always tries to stay calm. Whatever happens – even if he’s dropped one or whatever – he just carries on.
“I’m lucky myself – naturally my personality is laid-back. But you look at him and he doesn’t react. If he makes a mistake – he carries on. Stays at level one. Never too high or too low, which is important.”
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