"Sometimes you do have to force the issue" - Shay Given urges Liverpool star to leave club following Arne Slot's recent comments

Former Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given has told Caoimhin Kelleher to leave Liverpool at the end of the season. He believes that the 25-year-old shot-stopper needs to be playing regularly, which will not be possible at Anfield.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has made clarified that Alisson will remain the first-choice for the Reds when he returns from his injury layoff. Kelleher has manned the posts for the Reds in Alisson's absence and has done a commendable job.

Given stated that Kelleher is too good to be sitting on the bench and should not be wasting his career. He said (via Liverpool Echo):

"Caoimhin played 26 games last season and in that time he showed that he has the talent to be a No.1 in the Premier League. But he turns 26 later this month and, if I am brutally honest, he needs to get away from L'pool if he wants that to happen. Kelleher would have been disappointed to hear Slot state publicly that Alisson will always be his first-choice keeper because everyone wants to go into training every day with the belief that they are fighting for a place in the team."

"Every professional footballer has to have that hope that if they get a place in the team and perform well, then they will keep the jersey. Caoimhin hasn’t got that. It has been made clear to him that he will always be behind Alisson – and he is up against a guy who is one of the best in the world."

“He’s done his time at L'pool, but they are now starting to think they can’t hold Kelleher back for much longer because he is a quality player. Maybe Caoimhin has been too nice about it up to now because sometimes you do have to force the issue. That isn’t a nice situation. He has been very loyal to Liverpool and he won’t want to upset the fans. But, at the same time, you only have one career, one life and one opportunity. Ten years down the road he could be 36 and people are talking about him as being over the hill,” he added.

Kelleher was a key part of Liverpool's Carabao Cup win over Chelsea in last season's final. He has made 55 appearances for the Reds in his career, keeping 19 clean sheets and conceding just 64 goals.

Caoimhin Kelleher is heading towards the end of his Liverpool contract

Kelleher is set to enter the final 18 months of his contract when the January window opens. The Liverpool star has not agreed to a new deal and was reportedly interested in leaving the club in the summer.

The Reds did not agree to a sale and decided to keep the goalkeeper as their second-choice behind Alisson. The Irishman has played in the Reds' last few matches following the injury to the Brazilian goalkeeper.

Arne Slot has stated that Alisson is unlikely to return to action before December, which means Kelleher will have an extended run in the first-team. Liverpool have some tough clashes coming up against Real Madrid and Manchester City and the Irishman will be keen to prove his mettle.