The Liverpool head coach provided an update on the fitness of several key players as the team prepares for their upcoming match against West Ham United in the Carabao Cup.
Arne Slot has announced that Caoimhin Kelleher will start for Liverpool in their Carabao Cup match against West Ham United, while Federico Chiesa may also make his full debut for the club.
Kelleher delivered a strong performance during the Reds’ 3-0 victory over Bournemouth on Saturday, stepping in after Alisson Becker was sidelined with a hamstring injury. Alisson will also miss the upcoming match against the Hammers on Wednesday night, with Slot stating that it’s “tight” regarding his fitness for the weekend clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux Stadium.
“It’s certain that Caoimh will be in goal tomorrow,” Slot said on Tuesday. “Alisson is making progress, but this match is coming a bit too soon for him. We’re focusing on the weekend against Wolves, but it’s going to be close, so we’ll have to see if he’ll be available.”
Kelleher was frank earlier this month when asked about his future at Liverpool, stating his wish to leave Anfield in search of regular first-team action. Nonetheless, Slot believes that Kelleher’s performance against Bournemouth, stepping up in the absence of their No. 1 goalkeeper, highlighted the value of having two skilled goalkeepers at the club.
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“I wasn’t at all surprised by his performance since he had already impressed during pre-season and performed well for his national team,” said the Liverpool manager. “It’s great for us to have two quality players, and our third option is also a very good goalkeeper.
“It’s beneficial for our squad, especially since injuries can happen. It was gratifying to see him maintain a clean sheet; he had some challenges but handled them exceptionally well.”
Slot also indicated that summer signing Federico Chiesa might start on Wednesday night after making his Anfield debut from the bench over the weekend. The Italian, who transferred from Juventus for £10m, may take some time before he can complete a full 90 minutes, the Liverpool boss acknowledged.
“I don’t believe he’s ready to play a full 90 minutes,” Slot said. “He has only played a maximum of 25 minutes in the last three or four months.
“I don’t think he participated in any friendlies at Juventus either, but we believe he can start. We’ll see how it goes. We have various options available. While we think he can start, I don’t think he can maintain the level required for 90 minutes against a strong West Ham team tomorrow.”