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Before Giorgi Mamardashvili signed for Liverpool, he was cautioned by Arne Slot that he would need to demonstrate patience and determination to become Liverpool's No. 1.
However, the Reds' towering new keeper has already been given an opportunity to cement his position as the first-choice goalkeeper following Alisson's injury during Tuesday night's tie against Galatasaray.
Alisson required attention from the medical team in the second half of the Champions League loss to the Turkish champions before being substituted by Mamardashvili. This marked the 25-year-old's second appearance of the season for Liverpool, having previously played in the Carabao Cup victory over Southampton last month.
Liverpool finalised a $39million agreement with Valencia in August 2024 to bring the Georgian international to Anfield. However, he remained in Spain for one more year before making the move this summer.
His eventual arrival allowed long-serving No. 2 Caoimhin Kelleher to transfer to Brentford, reports the Liverpool Echo. Mamardashvili made 134 appearances for Valencia over four years and upon joining the Reds, he expressed confidence that he could eventually become the club's new man between the posts.
However, Slot was eager to issue a warning to the Georgian international that he would have to be ready to compete with Alisson, a keeper widely considered as one of the best in the world, for his spot.
Speaking last season, Slot said: "In general I can say if you want to play for Liverpool, you have to accept that there is competition. That is not only Liverpool but that is in every Premier League club at the moment because of all the money that is in this league but in Liverpool if you don't want to face competition then it is not the best place to go to."
Challenge embraced. Mamardashvili arrived at Liverpool brimming with confidence, even dismissing any notion that he might be loaned out this campaign.
"They are looking at me as the Liverpool goalkeeper for the next 10 years," he revealed to Geo Team when questioned about what the Reds conveyed during transfer talks last year. "My next step will be the same as it was in Valencia.
"I will go and prove it and do what I can. The main thing is patience, training and hard work. And everything else will come by itself. I think it will be good. Training with (Alisson) will help me grow too and I will gain a lot of experience with him."
Whilst Mamardashvili possesses clear self-assurance and an imposing presence to intimidate any opposing forward, Alisson's absence is undoubtedly a massive setback for Liverpool.
The Reds now approach the Premier League encounter with Chelsea on Saturday following two consecutive losses and must confront Enzo Maresca's team without one of their most valuable players.
Slot confirmed following the Champions League fixture that the Brazil international is anticipated to miss the encounter with the Blues this weekend. "I have to manage minutes as well," Slot told Amazon Prime after the defeat.
"Hugo Ekitike going off, hopefully not in a bad way. Alisson going off. That's why we do need to rotate a bit. It's never positive if you go off like this. You can be sure that he's (Alisson) not playing on Saturday, so let's wait how long it is going to take. But he is definitely not going to play on Saturday."
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