Caoimhin Kelleher: What’s happening now with the Liverpool goalkeeper as Alisson Becker nears return?

He has always felt that Kelleher would eventually have to move on, unless he kept waiting for Alisson, who is seven years his senior, to refuse or leave.

But the Irishman’s hand appeared to be forced in August when Liverpool agreed to sign Valencia and Georgia goalkeeper Mamardashvili, now 24, in a deal worth up to £29m next summer.

That could leave Kelleher, who joined the club aged 16 from Cork side Ringmahon Rangers, at third choice.

“I’ve made it clear over the last few years that I want to be No. 1 and play week in and week out,” Kelleher said in September.

“The club has made the decision to hire another goalkeeper and, from the outside, it looks like they have made the decision to go in a different direction.”

Even if Liverpool were to surprisingly sell Alisson, who has 18 months left on his contract with the option for a further year, Kelleher would likely still be second choice, this time opposite a younger goalkeeper.

Liverpool rejected offers from Nottingham Forest last year, while Celtic were also heavily linked.

Last month, former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given told BBC Radio 5 Live: “He’s not getting any younger.

“Every game that goes by where he doesn’t play, he’ll never come back.

“He only has one career, one life and one chance to be a top-level goalkeeper.”

Kelleher’s recent run in the team appears to have proven he is good enough, but he will now face another spell on the sidelines with the return of Alisson.

In October, former Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerveld told BBC Radio Merseyside: “Alisson is the best in the world.

“I think this is a time for Kelleher to show the world what he’s capable of. He’ll probably be gone at the end of the season.”