For Liverpool’s reserve goalkeeper, anyway. Caoimhin Kelleher’s penalty save from Kylian Mbappe appeared about 20 minutes before kick-off. It may be the highlight of the Irishman’s career. It was certainly the highlight of his night.
What followed was an illustration of why Kelleher may be the best second-choice goalkeeper in football. Alisson’s return to the team was a major decision, one foretold by Arne Slot’s stance that, no matter how many saves Kelleher made, the Brazilian remained his first choice. In keeping with Slot’s start to life at Anfield, he got it right.
After two months out and 11 games on the sidelines, Alisson was parachuted straight back in. His excellence in Girona preserved Liverpool’s immaculate start to Champions League football under Slot and underlined the logic behind the pecking order. Kelleher is terrific but Alisson is Alisson, the man Liverpool made the most expensive goalkeeper ever and the man who, in turn, made Liverpool Champions League winners.
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