Arne Slot admits he would be ‘worried’ if Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher didn’t want to leave the club – after the goalkeeper made clear his desire to fight for No 1 spot elsewhere

Liverpool boss Arne Slot says he understands the frustrations of Caoimhin Kelleher Kelleher after the Irish goalkeeper this week said the decision for him to remain at Anfield was ‘not 100 per cent’ his decision.

Kelleher, 25, said that he had made it clear that his desire was to go elsewhere and fight to be a No 1. Speaking at a Republic of Ireland press conference, the shot-stopper added the Reds’ signing of Georgia keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili hinted the club ‘wanted to go another way’.

Liverpool rejected a late, lowball approach from Nottingham Forest for Kelleher both in January and the summer window. But Slot does not mind Kelleher’s comments and says he would be concerned if he said he did not want to play every week when quizzed on this.

‘I would be really worried if a player came out and said, “I don’t care about playing first-team football, I like it so much on the bench and want to stay there for the rest of my life”,’ said Slot. ‘That would be a bigger worry for me.

‘It is normal they want to play but also normal that a club as big as this – trying to compete for trophies – has more than 11 players. As long as they accept their situation – not accept in a way that they don’t care but accept it in a way that they can help the team whenever they have to.

The Liverpool goalkeeper (pictured) made it known while on international duty that he wants to leave the club

He has played No 2 to first-choice stopper Alisson (centre) for the last few years at Anfield

‘This is a good place to be in. Caoimhin has shown many times in the past few years and even in pre-season that he is ready when we need him. It is a good thing that he wants to play. And who knows, he is going to play for us in the future.

‘But at this moment it is quite clear that Alisson is the No 1. Normal situation for a player not playing to want…