Former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar believes a loan move or transfer away with a buy-back clause could be the best solution to the Reds' dilemma over Republic of Ireland international goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher.
The Cork native has had opportunities to play in the Premier League and Champions League during his time at Anfield but due to the presence of number one Alisson Becker, the 25-year-old has been largely restricted to some FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Europa League fixtures.
Kelleher's contract runs until June 2026, while Alisson is tied to Liverpool until the following summer.
The current situation has had a knock on effect on his Ireland career where he has won 11 caps but has mostly played second fiddle to Gavin Bazunu who has had regular game-time at Southampton over the past 18 months.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport in Dublin at the launch of the Carlsberg 0.0 Nil All Campaign, building up to Wednesday's Premier League clash between Liverpool and Chelsea, 1984 European Cup winner Grobbelaar said a loan or a transfer that would more easily pave his way back to Liverpool could suit both Kelleher and the Merseyside club, who will see manager Jurgen Klopp end his successful spell at the end of this campaign.
"We've got a beautiful goalkeeper in Caoimhín Kelleher. When the manager comes out and says we've got the best goalkeeper in the world and the second best goalkeeper here - talking about Caoimhín - it's a great accolade," said the 66-year-old ex-Zimbabwe international.
"But yes, from the Irish point of view, they'd rather have him play more games and we are playing him in some of the cup games.
"But if there was a little thing that you could do to make him much better than he is, is to give him games.
"Maybe it could be that Liverpool could put him out on loan or sell to him a club with a buy-back clause and see if Alisson stays.
"If Alisson stays then he's getting game-time and as soon as Alisson leaves, you get the buy-back clause and he comes straight back.
"That's the only way that I would have a look at it because he's such a fantastic goalkeeper."
Grobbelaar reflected back on his own experience from 1981 when he joined Liverpool whilst the late three-time European Cup winner Ray Clemence was - briefly as it would turn out prior to a later move to Tottenham - still at the club.
"My role there was very, very different. I was signed for a record for a goalkeeper at that time and I couldn't get it round my head why they'd pay so much money for me to take over from the best goalkeeper in England at the time and the best goalkeeper, in my opinion, that Liverpool has ever seen up until now," he said.
"So it was quite worrying that I was going to stay there in the shadow but then when Ray Clemence left, I was thrown in the deep end.
"Now, I don't envisage that Alisson is going to do that to get Caoimhín in because Caoimhín has actually played quite a number of games and he's played very, very well.
"So we wait and see with bated breathe to see what happens with the new (manager) coming in next season and we see what the goalkeeper situation is from hereon in."
Meanwhile, Klopp's departure will leave a void for Liverpool but Grobbelaar pointed to the 1980s and how a succession of managers were adequately replaced as a sign of hope that the Reds can maintain their momentum.
"It hurts when you are a player when it happens but you have to go out on the pitch and do the very best for them until he goes," he said of the German.
"So he's told us in the middle of the season, he's going at the end of the season. Well, let's go out and show what character they've got as players for one and if they're going to be staying, they'll be staying because they are part of Liverpool Football Club.
"Managers come and go, players come and go (but) the club will always be there. Nobody is bigger than the club and that's Liverpool Football Club."
As for potential successors, Grobbelaar acknowledged the "marvellous job" that ex-Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has done as Bayer Leverkusen head coach but threw an unexpected name into the equation: former Chelsea and Brighton manager Graham Potter.
"What he did with Brighton, he had to mould young players and get them into the first team and manage that type of environment and I think he would be very fitting to come to Liverpool because we've got some great youngsters and use them to carry on the legacy that Klopp has left."
