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11th December 2024
10:21am GMT
Shay Given has urged Irish goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher to leave Liverpool at the end of the season after Alisson Becker returned to the starting line-up following a spell on the sidelines with injury.
Alisson started and kept a clean sheet in the Reds' 1-0 win over Girona in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Mohamed Salah scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot to maintain Liverpool's perfect record in the tournament this season.
The other main talking point from the match was Arne Slot's decision to reinstate Alisson to the starting XI at the expense of Kelleher, who impressed during his two-month run in the team.
The Liverpool manager maintained all along that the Brazilian goalkeeper would be the team's number 1 as soon as he was fit to play. He also praised him after the win in Spain.
"We have to thank Alisson that we kept a clean sheet," Slot said.
"Maybe his teammates wanted to make sure he was really fit and give him more work.
"He showed today - I don't think he needed to show anybody today, because everyone knows he is the best goalkeeper in the world - but he showed today that he definitely is this."
On Premier Sports, Given stated that Kelleher's demotion to the substitutes' bench means the goalkeeper now must start looking for a new club.
The former Republic of Ireland keeper laid it out for Kelleher - saying that the time has come to step out of Alisson's shadow and become the number-one goalkeeper for another club.
"I don't think there is a big drop off from Alisson to Kelleher," Given said.
"The only thing he has is the experience, winning the Premier League and Champions League - he has been there and done it.
"Caoimhin has sat on the bench when Alisson has been and done it.
"Kenny (Cunningham) is right, there is not a big drop-off. But the manager restated what he said, that Alisson is the best goalkeeper in the world.
"Caoimhin is going to be thinking 'It doesn't matter what I do' because the last spell of games he has been absolutely brilliant. He had one mistake at Newcastle but he has been absolutely phenomenal.
"He can do no more to get in that team and the manager puts Alisson back in and after the game backs it up with (saying) 'He's best goalkeeper in the world'.
"It is frustrating for Kelleher. I would be headbutting the plane on the way home thinking 'What do I need to do'.
"Well, I know what he needs to do - get out of the club."
Meanwhile, former Ireland defender Kenny Cunningham said that Chelsea would be the ideal next club for Kelleher.
