Arne Slot says Caoimhin Kelleher has ‘proved he was right’ to leave Liverpool

Arne Slot believes Caoimhin Kelleher has “shown that he’s right” to have pushed for a move from Liverpool this summer, ahead of his reunion with Brentford‘s No. 1.

Kelleher left Liverpool after 10 years – and six years in the first-team squad – in June to join Brentford in a deal worth £18 million.

Though he was used more regularly than a typical backup goalkeeper due to Alisson‘s persistent injuries, the Irishman has now settled into 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 night, 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’s a healthy situation for a player to be on the bench longer than a year,” he told reporters at the AXA Training Centre.

“[If you] miss out on many games in a year and go into the next season, it’s so hard for them to keep giving everything on a daily basis.

“So that was one of the reasons why we thought it was best for Jarell Quansah, for Harvey Elliott to find another club.

“For Caoimhin, like I said a goalkeeper is a bit different, but he was here for so many years that he felt it was time for him to start playing.

“And he’s shown that he’s right, because he does really well.”

Brentford have 4 ex-Liverpool players in their squad

Brentford should have three former Liverpool players in their starting lineup at the 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 having scored twice in his seven first-team appearances.

It is the prospect of meeting Henderson – the decorated former Liverpool captain – that most intrigues Slot.

“Although I haven’t worked with him, we’re also going to face Jordan Henderson, who I’ve been told is the only Liverpool captain to lift six [different] trophies,” he continued.

“I don’t know if this is funny, but in Holland they cannot stop talking about how much Ajax is missing Jordan Henderson.

“So that tells you how important he was for Ajax and how important he’s been for Liverpool, and how important he now is 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.