Liverpool will have to see off Arsenal and Manchester City if they want to snap up Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, according to HITC.

The Reds are considering the former England youth international as a potential replacement for Caoimhin Kelleher, who could be allowed to leave Anfield at the end of the season.

As Kelleher is a homegrown player, replacing him with another keeper who would qualify for the Premier League quota is seen as important, and the Merseyside club have identified Patterson as a target.

HITC claim that Arsenal and City are looking at the Championship shot-stopper for the same reason as they seek new No.2s.

What do Liverpool fans need to know about Patterson?

The keeper graduated through Sunderland’s academy, and that has inevitably led to comparisons to England’s No.1 Jordan Pickford, who also started out with the Black Cats.

Patterson had two separate loan spells at Notts County before eventually establishing himself as Sunderland’s no.1 at the beginning of 2022. He hasn’t looked back since then, making 105 appearances in all competitions, conceding 121 goals and keeping 32 clean sheets.

In terms of his international career, the Englishman was handed his only cap for the Three Lions at under 21 level when he played in the second half of a 2-0 friendly defeat to Japan back in June.

Another Premier League club could get involved

HITC report that Chelsea have also kept an eye on Patterson’s progress but they are not expected to make a move for the 23-year-old at this stage.

The Blues would need to sell either Djordje Petrovic or Robert Sanchez if they wanted to pursue another keeper so Liverpool are set to have one less rival to worry about in the battle for Patterson’s signature.

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