Goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga returns to Liverpool following an early termination of his loan spell.

Marcelo Pitaluga's loan spell was cut short after a challenging six months in Ireland, culminating in only seven appearances. The 21-year-old goalkeeper moved to St Patrick’s Athletic in January, where his predecessor, Vitezslav Jaros, had thrived in 2021.

Unlike Jaros, who won silverware, Pitaluga struggled to find form and confidence, leading to a series of errors that diminished his opportunities to play. St Pat’s new manager, Stephen Kenny, announced the early termination of Pitaluga's loan, remarking on his potential for a promising career.

Expected to stay with the Irish club until November, Pitaluga returns to Liverpool prematurely. He initially started the first four league games for St Pat’s, but his performance in a 3-1 defeat to Waterford marked a downturn, resulting in limited further appearances. After a previous loan at Macclesfield, Pitaluga faces the task of regaining confidence during Liverpool's pre-season.

Eligible as a homegrown player in the Premier League, he may have opportunities at Liverpool next season, although another loan could be on the horizon. Pitaluga has been a consistent presence in Liverpool's first-team training, working with Alisson and former coaches John Achterberg and Jack Robinson.

With Achterberg and Robinson's departure, Arne Slot has brought in Fabian Otte as the new goalkeeping coach, set to join after his commitments with the United States at Copa America.