Caoimhin Kelleher has opened up on the “special” bond he shares with Mohamed Salah, admitting it will be a “strange” experience to stand in the way of the Egyptian King’s final act.
Liverpool might well wish they could turn back time to when they decided to get rid of Caoimhin Kelleher in the summer, with the mountain of injury issues they currently have in the goalkeeper department.
The former Liverpool goalkeeper will be in the opposite dugout on the final day of the 2025/26 season as the Egyptian King prepares for his long-awaited Anfield goodbye.
As the curtain begins to fall on Mohamed Salah’s storied Liverpool career, few players can offer a more unique perspective than Kelleher.
Having spent years facing the prolific forward on the AXA training pitches, the now-Brentford No.1 has shared a poignant message for his former teammate, offering a rare glimpse into the “unreal” standards Salah set behind the scenes before his inevitable summer exit.
For years, they were the ultimate duo on the training pitches of Kirby, the world-class marksman sharpening his tools against the man often described as the “best number two in the world.”
Kelleher, who traded the shadow of Alisson Becker for the number one shirt at Brentford last summer, is now preparing for a reunion that carries more weight than most. With Salah’s legendary Liverpool career reaching its final act, the Irish shot-stopper has shared a poignant message for the man who defined an era at Anfield.
Liverpool might well wish they could turn back time to when they decided to get rid of Kelleher in the summer, with the mountain of injury issues they currently have in the goalkeeper department.
Indeed, with both Alisson and Giorgi Mamardashvili missing through injury last time out, as Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace travelled to Anfield, Arne Slot had no choice but to name Freddie Woodman as his number one stopper versus the Eagles.
Woodman put in a valiant performance in his defence, as he was only beaten by a controversial Daniel Munoz goal during the 3-1 victory, leading to the former Preston North End man receiving a raucous applause at the full-time whistle.
Yet, in an alternate reality, Slot would have thrown Kelleher into the deep-end, but the Irishman now calls Brentford home, after a £18m summer move to the Bees.
It’s not just in goal where the Dutchman is experiencing injury agony, with the reigning Premier League champions now sweating about the short-term availability of Mohamed Salah, after he went down with a suspected hamstring niggle in the second half against Glasner side.
With only four games left of the season, this 59-minute spell against Palace could prove to be his final outing at Anfield.
For Kelleher’s sake, though, he will hope he can be the final ever keeper to face the might of the 33-year-old in the top-flight, who has bagged a stunning 257 goals for the Reds in total.
The Brentford number one won’t be heading into this game in awe of Salah’s farewell, though, if he is deemed fit, with Kelleher delivering an honest message about his return to Anfield, in a recent interview with The Athletic.
Kelleher’s honest message to Salah
Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk has backed Salah to return, with the Dutch colossus noting that the spellbinding winger is a “quick healer.”
It will certainly be touch-and-go, but Kelleher will back himself all the way to be in between the sticks for the showdown at Anfield.
Playing 32 times in the Premier League this season, with only ten league appearances coming his way last campaign under Slot, the 27-year-old is a reinvigorated presence at the GTech Community Stadium, so much so that he wants to spoil Salah’s farewell.
Brentford might well stand a chance of European qualification, too, heading into the final day, adding yet another dimension to a fascinating match-up.
He said, when speaking to the Athletic: “Hopefully, it’s an important game for both of us.
“But yeah, it’ll be nice to go back now and see old faces. And playing in the stadium again will be special.
“Liverpool is a special place for me. I lived in the city (centre) for five years and loved it there. I just miss the people at the club. I have a lot of good friends there. I miss them, and I miss the city and the Scousers. I think they are similar to the Irish. They’re quite funny. I do miss them.
“Hopefully I’m apologising to him (Salah) after.”
Once, labelling his former teammate as “unbelievable” in front of goal, it will be intriguing to see if Kelleher can shut out Salah for a full game, with his 25/26 season to date, making Liverpool surely regret their sale.
Kelleher will back himself to perform at Anfield
Even if Salah isn’t present, the 27-year-old will look at this final day showdown as a big opportunity to prove to his former employers what they’re missing out on.
After all, from his 32 Premier League outings this season, the agile Irishman has managed to keep an encouraging nine clean sheets, with Mamardashvili way behind on only two.
The Irishman has already proven he can haunt his former employers, having stood tall during Brentford’s chaotic 3-2 victory over Arne Slot’s side earlier this term. While Salah managed to find a way past him that afternoon, the narrative has shifted significantly since.
Now, the ticking clock isn’t just about the full-time whistle, but whether a 33-year-old Salah will even be fit enough for one final dance, or if his legendary Anfield chapter will end with the cruel whimper of injury.
Regardless of the Egyptian’s status, Kelleher’s mission remains unchanged: to frustrate the club that raised him, as he cements his own legacy away from the shadows of Merseyside.
