Champions League winner Caoimhin Kelleher is learning all he can from Alisson Becker as he attempts to push the older man all the way for the goalkeeper’s shirt at Liverpool.
The 20-year-old Irishman was part of the squad which lifted European club football’s biggest prize in Madrid at the end of last season as Alisson kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 final victory over Tottenham.
Speaking on international duty with the Republic of Ireland Under-21s, Kelleher said: “It’s been very good for me.
“To be honest in the last year, I think I’ve improved quite a good bit in that part of the game and a lot has been down to him, just watching him and seeing what he does in certain situations in games.
“Speaking to him as well, he’ll speak to me on what stuff I can improve on, so it’s been a huge help.”
He said with a smile: “I don’t think you can look at it like that. Maybe if I hadn’t got injured, Alisson might not have got injured. I don’t really think about that, to be honest, there’s no point dwelling on stuff like that.”
He said: “He’s probably one of the best managers in the world, so it can only be a good thing being with him every day.
“He’s very good at man-management – you can see that in the way that all the players get along with him and even the players who aren’t playing or not in squads.
“He makes everyone feel a part of it, makes everyone feel like they’re making a difference to the team. He’s very good.”
