Arne Slot believes Caoimhin Kelleher has “shown he’s right” by pushing for a move from Liverpool this summer ahead of his reunion with Brentford’s number one side.
Kelleher left Liverpool after ten years – and six years in the first team – in June to join Brentford in a deal worth £18m.
Although used more often than a typical reserve goalkeeper due to Alisson’s ongoing injuries, the Irishman has now established himself in a first-choice role at his new club.
He will make his ninth start when he faces Liverpool at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday evening, with Slot explaining why he encouraged Kelleher’s desire to leave.
“Maybe a goalkeeper is an exception, but in general I don’t think it is a healthy situation for a player to sit on the bench for more than a year,” he told reporters at the AXA Training Center.
“[If you] When they miss a lot of games in one year and going into the next season, it is so difficult for them to continue to give everything every day.
“So that was one of the reasons why we thought it was best for Jarell Quansah and Harvey Elliott to find another club.
“For Caoimhin, as I said, being a goalkeeper is a bit different, but he had been here for so many years that he felt it was time to play.
“And he has shown that he is right, because he is doing very well.”
Brentford have four ex-Liverpool players in their squad
Brentford should have three former Liverpool players in the starting line-up this weekend, with Kelleher likely to be joined by Jordan Henderson and Sepp van den Berg.
Another will almost certainly be on the bench, with Fabio Carvalho making his mark this season despite a limited role, scoring twice in his seven first-team appearances.
It is the prospect of meeting Henderson – Liverpool’s decorated former captain – that most intrigues Slot.
“Although I haven’t worked with him, we will also be going up against Jordan Henderson, who I am told is the only Liverpool captain to have won six times.” [different] trophies,” he continued.
“I don’t know if this is funny, but in the Netherlands they keep talking about how much Ajax misses Jordan Henderson.
“So that tells you how important he was for Ajax and how important he has been for Liverpool, and how important he is now for Brentford.”
Henderson has started each of the last seven Premier League games for Brentford, having immediately cemented himself as a key player for Keith Andrews.
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