Due to an injury, Caoimhin Kelleher will miss Liverpool’s second Europa League group match and be ineligible to play during the international break.
After being selected for the starting lineup for the season’s first game against LASK, the Irishman had intended to make the Europa League his competition this year.
Chances for him to take over Liverpool’s goalkeeping duties as Alisson’s assistant are few and far between, but he was anticipating another opportunity on Thursday night.
Liverpool informed Kelleher’s national team of the development, but Ireland manager Stephen Kenny has since acknowledged that Kelleher needed “12 stitches in a knee joint” after suffering a cut.
The rumor that it was a collision on the practice field may help to explain why he was absent from Wednesday’s open session photos featuring Liverpool’s starting lineup.
Kelleher, who has made two appearances so far this season and would have otherwise been competing for minutes for his nation had it not been for the injury, has been dealt an untimely setback.
For Jurgen Klopp’s team against Union SG, Alisson is likely to stay in goal, but Vitezslav Jaros is the next man up, so anything might happen.
The 22-year-old goalkeeper, who has been a fixture in first-team practice, sat on the bench against LASK and made an appearance against Karlsruher SC during preseason.
It would undoubtedly come as a surprise to see his name on the starting lineup, but Klopp is never afraid to throw a curveball, which might give other young goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga a chance to make the team.
It will be interesting to see who Klopp chooses for the remainder of his starting lineup and in goal when the team news is announced at any time starting at 6.30pm (BST).
