How does Kelleher compare to Alisson and Liverpool’s big-six rival ‘keepers? | OneFootball

Liverpool have suffered a big blow with Alisson ruled out for six weeks due to injury.

The Brazilian had to come off injured in the Reds’ 1-0 win over Crystal Palace in the Premier League before the international break. There had been hope that it wouldn’t be a long absence.

But it has now been confirmed that Alisson will not be back until after the November international break. That will be a boost for the mouth-watering clash against Manchester City at the start of December. But Liverpool still have seven games to navigate between the two international breaks.

Liverpool will face Chelsea, RB Leipzig, Arsenal, Brighton twice, Bayer Leverkusen and Aston Villa without Alisson.

Vitezslav Jaros was the man to replace Alisson at Selhurst Park, confirming the clean sheet with one save in 11 minutes. Jaros was on the bench as Caoimhin Kelleher was ill, and the Irishman will be the one to replace Alisson for these seven games.

Kelleher was previously dubbed the best No.2 goalkeeper in the world by Jurgen Klopp, though it’s a nickname the Irishman isn’t happy with.

“It’s not a title I want – I want to be playing week in, week out,” Kelleher told talkSPORT recently.

“At the moment the situation for me is I’ll get these opportunities and I need to do well when I get these opportunities and play well, so that is my main focus obviously. Just when I do get that chance, play well.

“It is important I play week in, week out now and get that No.1 position. I have to show everyone I am capable and good enough to play week in, week out. I feel I have the quality to play well whenever I am needed, even if that means I’m not playing a game in a few weeks I can come in and still show my quality and do well. So that’s the most important part – to be ready when called upon.”

So, is Kelleher ready?

Kelleher has already played once in the Premier League this season, keeping a clean sheet against Bournemouth when Alisson was out with a slight muscle issue. In that game, Kelleher made seven saves and faced an Expected Goals on Target of 1.53. That performance puts Kelleher in the top 10 for most goals prevented in a single Premier League game this season.

Since the start of last season, Kelleher has played 11 games in the Premier League, always stepping in for the injured Alisson. The Irishman has conceded 11 goals in that time, with three clean sheets. Per 90 minutes, he does slightly come out worse than Alisson in the key goalkeeping metrics — though the smaller sample size and opposition faced will have its influence.

Kelleher’s three Premier League clean sheets since the start of last season have come at an average of 0.27 per 90 minutes, slightly less than Alisson’s 0.32 clean sheets per 90. Alisson has also conceded fewer goals per 90 at 0.94 to Kelleher’s 1, with fewer errors leading to goals (0.06 per 90 to Kelleher’s 0.09).

Liverpool faced more shots with Alisson in goal over the past two seasons, averaging 10.78 per 90, with Kelleher facing 10.18. But Kelleher has actually been the busier goalkeeper when it comes to saves, with 3.18 per 90 to Alisson’s 2.89. Kelleher is also more involved on the ball, with 49 touches per 90 to Alisson’s 44.6 and 38.45 passes attempted to 35.19. But, Alisson is more accurate with his passes, completing 84.48% to Kelleher’s 80.14%.

Comparing Kelleher further, to the goalkeepers of the other Big Six clubs since the start of last season, the Irishman does stand up pretty well.

Kelleher still comes out on top for passes attempted and completed, with Tottenham Hotspur‘s Guglielmo Vicario is closest rival there — attempted 35.71 and completed 84.69% per 90 minutes. Of course, Manc City’s Ederson has the best accuracy at 85.31% and has completed more long passes (5.9 per 90) than Kelleher’s 4.27.

For actual goalkeeper metrics, Arsenal’s David Raya is the one that comes out on top more often than not. The Spaniard has kept 0.49 clean sheets per 90 in the Premier League for Arsenal, while conceding 0.77 goals. Raya has also conceded the lowest xGOT per 90 at 0.67, 0.50 fewer than Kelleher.

But Kelleher does come out on top for goals prevented per 90, and Raya has actually underperformed in that regard, conceding 0.07 goals more than he was expected to. Kelleher also ranks third for saves per 90, bettered only by Manchester United‘s Andre Onana (3.73) and Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez (3.75) in the Premier League since the start of last season.

He’s certainly not Alisson, but Kelleher is a very capable deputy. Liverpool fans needn’t be worried, if they even are.