Kelleher has impressed when standing in for Alisson(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Liverpool legend on why Reds star could follow contract trio out of Anfield

Mark Lawrenson has backed Caoimhin Kelleher to shine while Alisson is out injured for the next six weeks but does believe the Irish keeper may be let go next summer

by · The Mirror

Mark Lawrenson believes Caoimhin Kelleher could leave Liverpool next summer.

The Irish keeper is set to step in for No 1 Alisson over the next seven games with the Brazilian out with a hamstring injury. Kelleher, 25, suffered a gaffe while playing for his country in this international break as he gifted Greece a second goal in a 2-0 defeat.

But fellow Republic of Ireland international Lawrenson believes the keeper will improve with more game time.

However, with the Reds already agreeing a deal to bring Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia next summer, Lawrenson admits that may be the end of Kelleher at the club.

“Losing Alisson is a big blow for Liverpool,” he told Sports Casting.

“He’s a big personality and arguably one of the top three keepers in world football.

“When Caoimhin Kelleher first came in he was trying to make saves he didn’t really have to make but once he was in for a while he became much better. He should try and make the most of these upcoming games.

“With Giorgi Mamardashvili coming in next season, they might go to Kelleher and say that they’re prepared to let him go at the end of the season, but he might even play more games this season than Alisson.

“It’s one of those things where we just need to watch this space.”

Mamardashvili is heading to Liverpool next summer( Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Liverpool have three players out of contract this summer in Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk.

They can talk to foreign clubs from January which could mean all three depart Anfield at the end of the season.

“If Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold all left the club it’d be a very sorry day for Liverpool,” said Lawrenson.

“You’d have to say all three are world-class players in key positions in the starting XI, so it’d be a real problem for Arne Slot going forwards.

“FSG have done a very good job at the club and they understand it despite having other sporting franchises, and I’d wager that two of those three will still be at the club next season. I think Trent will go to Real Madrid to go and play with Jude Bellingham, and he’d be allowed to play wherever he wanted in that team.

“I can see it happening, I really hope it doesn’t though. He’s a well-educated guy and he’ll be thinking about going to Madrid and learning the language, earning good money, what’s there not to like?”

But Lawrenson does believe the Reds have a replacement for Alexander-Arnold at right-back in Conor Bradley.

Bradley burst onto the scene for the Reds last season( Image: (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images))

“I wouldn’t say Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are all irreplaceable,” said Lawrenson.

“I think Conor Bradley has the makings of an outstanding full-back if Trent were to leave. He’s shown that he’s ready to start more for the first team and already has a number of good displays to point to.

“As for the other two, Salah is a goal machine so it’d be harder to find someone to do what he can.

“Virgil is the one though that has the biggest shoes to fill, he runs that dressing room and is an outstanding player – he’s the backbone of the Liverpool team and will be a big miss”

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