Andy Lonergan: Who is the Liverpool fourth choice set to step in, where has he come from and what next?

With Adrian now a doubt for tomorrow's clash against Southampton, and third-choice Caoimhin Kelleher recovering from a broken wrist, 35-year-old Lonergan is in line for an unexpected first-team debut

After losing Alisson to injury in the opening game of the season, Jurgen Klopp has now revealed that Adrian, Liverpool’s second-choice goalkeeper, is a doubt for Saturday’s clash with Southampton after injuring his ankle in the Super Cup final.

Adrian’s injury came amid the most unusual of circumstances, with a pitch-invading fan sliding into him during Liverpool’s celebrations after his penalty save secured victory in Istanbul.

“I don’t understand why in the world of social media when we are all together, a supporter jumped over something and kicked [Adrian’s] ankle. It is swollen but we have to see,” Klopp said.

“Apart from that it was a brilliant night for him.“

Adrian, 32, only joined Liverpool two weeks ago after leaving West Ham United in the summer, but was called upon to replace first-choice Alisson after the Brazilian suffered a knee injury against Norwich City last Friday that will sideline him for the best part of two months.

But with Adrian now possibly unavailable for selection as well, Klopp could be forced to turn to Andy Lonergan.

Liverpool’s third-choice keeper Caoimhin Kelleher is recovering from minor surgery on a broken wrist, meaning Lonergan is currently next in line to take stand between the sticks.

Lonergan, 35, was released by Middlesbrough at the end of last season and was drafted in as cover for Simon Mignolet in Liverpool’s pre-season tour of USA, while Alisson was given time to recover from the Copa America.

Klopp decided to keep hold of the veteran goalkeeper upon returning to Melwood and later offered the Englishman a deal to stay on at the club.

Lonergan was the sole back-up to Adrian in Istanbul and could now be poised for a first-team debut this weekend.

Addressing Liverpool’s goalkeeper situation before the Super Cup final, Klopp said. “The situation was even more difficult a few weeks ago because of injuries, but Caoimhin Kelleher is now in his final steps for being completely back.

“He’s training only [for] five days or so, catching balls and all that stuff, it looks all good but of course we have to find a solution in the short term and that will be, if nothing happens from now to then, Andy Lonergan.

“He was in with us, he’s a brilliant character, a really nice lad and helped us a lot in the pre-season and now we decided to work together with him.

“So that’s a very experienced solution but in the moment when Caoimhin is back then obviously Adrian is No 1, Caoimhin probably No 2 but we have to see how then he can have some games with the U23s or U21s [so] that he gets match practice as well.

“We have to see how that works but that’s then how we cover that situation.”

Lonergan has enjoyed spells at Leeds, Bolton, Wolves and Middlesbrough most recently.

He is a former England U21 international and is also eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland.