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And rather than clarifying the situation, his answer served only to further muddy the waters.

“They haven’t heard it themselves, but everyone that uses common sense (might guess),” said the Reds boss, when asked whether Alisson Becker or Caoimhin Kelleher will start against Newcastle United.

The ECHO ponders arguably one of Slot's most difficult selection decisions this weekend.



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Three years ago, Jurgen Klopp's decision to keep faith with Caoimhin Kelleher for the Carabao Cup final with Chelsea represented something of a radical call by the then Liverpool boss.

But after watching the Irishman smash home the deciding penalty in the shootout before the club commissioned a mural in his honour on the goalkeepers' wall at the AXA Training Centre, few could argue that Klopp's bold move wasn't the right one.

Back then, though, the decision to select Kelleher was very much done so as a carrot to keep the Republic of Ireland international happy at Anfield, content with his role as Alisson Becker's understudy who would get his chance in the domestic cups.

And no-one can debate that Kelleher didn't take his opportunity with both hands having since established himself as one of best deputies around in the Premier League.

That was then, however.

With Giorgi Mamardashvili on his way this summer and with Kelleher entering the last 12 months of his contract - making it the last window where the club can fetch a reasonable transfer fee in line with his quality - there is no longer any real need to offer the backup glovesman a bargaining chip.

And given Kelleher hasn't played a game since last month's FA Cup exit at Plymouth Argyle five weeks ago, it would be a major call to drop out an in-form Alisson simply for the sake of allowing the deputy to continue on in this competition.

Having won it twice already at Anfield, few would be fearful of Kelleher dropping a clanger in the Wembley showpiece but with Slot referring to Alisson as "the best goalkeeper in the world" less than a fortnight ago, deliberately rotating the Brazilian is a needless risk.

If Slot also believes Mohamed Salah or Virgil van Dijk are the best in their respective positions then it would look like a bizarre call to take either out of the team for Sunday's final.

That same logic should apply here for Alisson.

It has long been established Liverpool have perhaps the best number two goalkeeper in the Premier League in Caoimhin Kelleher.

And in recent seasons, injuries to Alisson Becker have meant the Republic of Ireland international has played a significant part in the Reds progress, first last season under Jurgen Klopp and then this term with Arne Slot in charge.

Indeed, his 17 appearances this campaign have included clean sheets in the Champions League against Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen and a similar shut-out in the home dismissal of outgoing Premier League champions Manchester City.

Telling, though, is that Kelleher has started five of the seven domestic cup games.

Kelleher has already been the League Cup final hero twice for Liverpool - there's no reason to suggest he shouldn't have the chance to complete the hat-trick on Sunday.

Caoimhin Kelleher has been Liverpool’s hero in the League Cup final in both 2022 and 2024.

While Alisson Becker is the best goalkeeper in the world, I’m backing the Republic of Ireland to be given the nod to try and make it a hat-trick.

Arne Slot has already admitted that, following in Jurgen Klopp’s lead, the League Cup is the Reds number two’s competition.
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