Liverpool’s new goalkeeper, Giorgi Mamardashvili, has been ruled out for the rest of the year due to a thigh injury. The 24-year-old Georgian international sustained the injury during a narrow 1-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano while playing for Valencia.
Mamardashvili’s absence won’t directly impact Liverpool’s current season, but the club will be monitoring his recovery closely to ensure it doesn’t pose a long-term issue. The young goalkeeper was signed in August 2024 for a reported £30 million fee, with the expectation of bringing long-term stability and competition to Liverpool’s goalkeeping department.
Mamardashvili has been impressive in La Liga since his move to Valencia in 2021, showcasing his consistency and shot-stopping ability. He has featured in 69 consecutive league matches, setting club records, and has earned a nomination for the prestigious Yashin Trophy in 2024.
This season, despite Valencia’s struggles, Mamardashvili has managed 14 appearances and three clean sheets while making some incredible saves along the way, further solidifying his reputation as one of Europe’s most promising young goalkeepers.
The injury to Mamardashvili complicates Liverpool’s long-term planning, particularly with Alisson Becker facing intermittent injuries this year. This has created reliance on backup Caoimhín Kelleher, who has impressed in his appearances but has expressed desire for regular first-team football, leading to speculation about his future at Anfield.
Mamardashvili’s arrival is seen as a long-term replacement for Alisson Becker, who has been linked with a move away to Saudi Arabia. However, this injury forces Liverpool to carefully evaluate their approach, ensuring their goalkeeping plans remain robust heading into 2025 ¹.
In other injury news, Trent Alexander-Arnold has been ruled out for “a few weeks” with a minor knee ligament tear. The defender is set to be sidelined for around three weeks, which rules him out of both Carabao Cup semi-final legs against Fulham, a league trip to Bournemouth, and the club’s FA Cup fourth-round tie.
Virgil van Dijk is due to return after missing the FA Cup win over Arsenal due to illness. Meanwhile, Dominik Szoboszlai is back in light training after picking up a hamstring problem, but will not be fit for the Carabao Cup last four clash with Fulham.
Left-backs Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas, who picked up shoulder and collarbone injuries respectively in recent weeks, are due back by the end of January ².
