Liverpool and Chelsea will meet once again in a final. This time fans will be hoping it’s not another goalless occasion.
The Reds booked their Wembley ticket by seeing off Fulham on Wednesday after Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea thrashed Championship side Middlesbrough in the second leg the day before.
Given that Liverpool are competing on all fronts this season – Premier League, League Cup final, FA Cup and the Europa League, then there need to be a fair amount of rotation from Jurgen Klopp.
In Europe and the domestic cup matches, goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has started in between the sticks instead of number one, Alisson Becker.
It was suggested by Craig Burley that the Republic of Ireland star will start the final against Chelsea and ‘the other ten will be the big guns’, as he told ESPN.
But Anfield legend Steve Nicol was pretty blunt in his response to that as he seemingly doesn’t want Caoimhin Kelleher to play.
The 25-year-old has faired well for Liverpool in between the sticks, including being a penalty hero against Chelsea, but Steve Nicol had a harsh response for the player.
“Kellher will play in the final,” said Burley. “He will play in the final, I would imagine and the other ten will be the big guns.”
Nicol responded: “I hope not.”
Given the amount of games Liverpool are playing and will go on to play this season, it increases Kelleher’s game time.
But it also puts him in the shop window for the summer, with the Irishman attracting interest, including from Scottish Premiership champions Celtic.
You would imagine if he helps his team to a few trophies by the end of the campaign, then his stock will only rise.
Plus, many would argue that he is now too good to be sitting on Liverpool’s bench and acting as a number two.
