Vitezslav Jaros: Liverpool's unlikely debutant as Caoimhin Kelleher absence explained

Liverpool goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros was given a Premier League baptism of fire at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

When Alisson pulled up with what appeared to be a muscle injury in the second half at Selhurst Park when he dealt with a Trent Alexander-Arnold backpass, t he Reds were forced to turn to their third-choice stopper when the Brazilian couldn't continue.

Usual reserve Caoimhin Kelleher wasn't with the matchday squad in south London after reporting ill, meaning that the 23-year-old Jaros had to come on at a crucial stage of the match to make his first senior appearance for the club with his side 1-0 up following Diogo Jota's early strike.

The young goalkeeper was needed early on as he came to punch a cross, before he stood tall to save from Eberechi Eze when the Palace star raced through. Later still he was quick and alert to come and claim ahead of an onrushing Jean-Philippe Mateta as he snuffed out any hope of a chance for the Palace forward.

Jaros has been on Liverpool's books since 2017 when he joined from Slavia Prague as a teenager, but until now his only senior football has come on loan spells. He is by no means a rookie though, and his performances on loan at Austrian side Sturm Graz last season - when they were league champions - earned a spot in the Czech Republic's Euro 2024 squad, where he was third-choice.

Jaros made a fine late stop from Eze
(Image: PA)

The spell in Graz was Jaros' fourth loan spell away from Liverpool, with his first coming at Irish side St Patrick's Athletic in 2021, when he served as the side's first-choice stopper.

He also had spells at lower league English sides Stockport County and Notts County in 2022 and 2023 respectively, and he was then promoted to Liverpool's third-choice keeper in the summer following the departure of the long-serving Adrian.

It remains to be seen how long Alisson will be out for, but the Reds will be banking on the return of Kelleher should the Brazilian be out for an extended period, but Jaros at least showed promise in his brief cameo on the pitch.

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