Caoimhin Kelleher might be the only frustrated figure in an otherwise jubilant Liverpool camp under Arne Slot. Despite his impressive performances during Liverpool’s unbeaten run, which saw the team secure 10 wins and two draws across domestic and European competitions, the Irish goalkeeper found himself relegated to the bench as soon as first-choice keeper Alisson Becker regained fitness.

Kelleher’s contributions were pivotal in Liverpool’s recent success, showcasing his talent and reliability between the posts. However, his swift demotion highlights the challenges faced by backup goalkeepers at elite clubs, where opportunities can be fleeting despite strong performances. It’s a tough pill to swallow for the talented Irishman, who has repeatedly proven his worth whenever called upon.

Mo Salah’s penalty was the only goal of the game as Liverpool edged a nervy encounter in Girona

Liverpool fans were delighted to see Alisson back in business between the sticks after a lengthy injury

Ex-Man Utd midfielder Donny van de Beek conceded the penaltyCredit: Getty

Caoimhin Kelleher was dropped back to the bench after Alisson was declared fit

Caoimhin Kelleher, who has expressed his desire to leave Liverpool in search of regular first-team football, was once again relegated to the bench in Catalonia. From there, he watched as Alisson Becker showcased his brilliance, proving why he is widely regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world.

On a night when Arne Slot’s Liverpool side struggled to hit their stride, Alisson delivered a flawless performance, making five crucial saves to keep the team in contention. The lackluster attacking display was briefly aided by VAR, which intervened on the hour mark to penalize former Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek for a foul on Luiz Díaz.

Mohamed Salah, who had a quiet game otherwise, stepped up to convert a textbook penalty, maintaining Liverpool’s trend of scoring late. Remarkably, 20 of their last 23 goals have come in the second half, underlining the team’s resilience and ability to deliver in crucial moments.

Alisson has delivered some exceptional performances for Liverpool in the Champions League over the years.

He will never beat the stoppage time save from Napoli’s Arkadiusz Milik in December 2018 which kept Liverpool in the Champions League – and they went on to beat Tottenham in the final.

But Alisson has proved that six years later, he has got even better and the only worry are his dodgy hamstrings.

There were also moments against the third best team in Spain last year when the 32-year-old was just as good with his feet, playing tight passes with his defenders and at one stage, delivering a brilliant chip over the head of an onrushing player.

Kelleher’s mistakes against Newcastle in the Prem last week came at the worst possible time before Alisson’s return

Despite Kelleher’s fine displays – his only blip was against Newcastle six days earlier – and Alisson was always going to be parachuted back into the team.

And he now finds himself back in a team that have still only lost once all season.