Liverpool have a goalkeeping drawback. Now not a nasty one — a in point of fact just right one — however an issue that trainer Arne Slot should remedy nevertheless.
Slot has arguably the sector’s best possible goalkeeper in his squad in Alisson Becker, and second-choice keeper Caoimhín Kelleher is seemed through many — along Manchester Town’s Stefan Ortega — as the most efficient understudy within the Premier League and in all probability the perfect long-term successor to Alisson.
However with Liverpool nonetheless on the right track for luck within the Premier League, Carabao Cup and UEFA Champions League this season, it has nearly been forgotten that one in all Alisson or Kelleher is prone to depart this summer season to make manner for Slot’s first main signing as trainer, Valencia keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
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The six-foot-six Georgia world, some of the breakout stars at Euro 2024 as his nation reached the around of 16, sealed a £29 million switch closing August ahead of straight away being loaned again to Valencia at some point of this season. But if he arrives at Anfield this summer season, who will Mamardashvili be competing with for the No. 1 blouse? And can the 24-year-old be content material to take a seat at the bench having waited a yr to make his giant transfer to the membership?
With fallen giants Valencia struggling with towards relegation, Mamardashvili has no less than been stored busy right through his 23 LaLiga appearances this season, retaining 5 blank sheets and conceding 39 targets from 94 photographs confronted — a save proportion of 58.1%. Alisson, in contrast, has underlined his standing as the sector’s best possible through conceding simply 18 targets in 21 Premier League video games for Liverpool this season from 64 photographs confronted — a save proportion of 73.5%. Kelleher has most effective made 8 Premier League appearances, however his file of 9 targets conceded from 33 photographs confronted places him on the subject of Alisson’s figures with a save proportion of 72.7%.
Mamardashvili has had a hard season in a suffering crew and, after creating a mistake which ended in a purpose right through Saturday’s 2-1 win towards backside crew Actual Valladolid (circulation a replay on ESPN+ within the U.S.), he issued a commentary on his Instagram account to confess his deficient shape this season.
“I do know I am not in my best possible second now,” Mamardashvili stated in his submit. “However I am satisfied that demanding situations make us more potent. I am setting up my best possible effort to be the most efficient model of me once imaginable.”
It has nearly been forgotten that one in all Alisson Becker or Caoimhín Kelleher is prone to depart Liverpool this summer season to make manner for Giorgi Mamardashvili.. Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC
Whilst Mamardashvili is on the lookout for shape, in all probability distracted through the possibility of his summer season transfer to Liverpool, Alisson has been remarkable. Due to the Brazil world’s efficiency closing week at Paris Saint-Germain within the first leg in their Champions League round-of-16 tie, Liverpool pass into Tuesday’s moment leg at Anfield retaining a 1-0 benefit towards the Ligue 1 leaders.
It was once one of the vital improbable person performances in Champions League historical past through a goalkeeper. Alisson’s 9 saves towards PSG had been probably the most through a Liverpool keeper in a Champions League recreation since Opta started recording knowledge in 2003-04.
However the predicament going through Slot and Liverpool is whether or not to stay with Alisson as their undisputed first-choice and offload the 26-year-old Kelleher this summer season; or to play the lengthy recreation, as Liverpool have finished so effectively in recent times, through as a substitute shifting Alisson ahead of they have got to handle the 32-year-old’s contractual scenario right through the following three hundred and sixty five days.
Alisson is beneath contract till the top of subsequent season, however Liverpool dangle the choice of extending that deal for an additional yr to June 2027. The previous AS Roma participant, who become the sector’s most costly goalkeeper when he finished a £66.8m transfer to Anfield in July 2018, will most effective be 34 on the finish of the 2026-27 season, so triggering his contract choice turns out an obtrusive choice.
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But when Liverpool retain Alisson this summer season, as turns out sure, it will verify Kelleher’s go out, with the Republic of Eire world, whose contract expires in 2026, telling newshounds closing September that he sought after to play common first-team soccer.
“I have made it transparent in the previous couple of years that I need to pass and be a No. 1 and play week in, week out,” Kelleher stated. “The membership’s made that call to get every other goalkeeper and from the outdoor taking a look in, it looks as if they have decided to move in a unique path.
“Infrequently from the outdoor taking a look in, it looks as if that is 100% my choice [to leave] however from time to time it is not at all times in my palms. My ambition is obvious that I believe I am just right sufficient and I need to pass out and end up it.”
A yr in the past, when Liverpool sealed a deal for Mamardashvili, Alisson were the topic of pastime from Saudi Professional League aspect Al Nassr, with the participant pronouncing on the time: “While you pay attention concerning the numbers different avid gamers are getting for taking part in in Saudi, you’re a little bit attracted, this is standard, however it by no means were given to the purpose the place I used to be speaking about wages.”
He added: “I’ve a freelance with Liverpool and I need to end it, or make a brand new one. If it is within the pastime of the membership to barter me with every other membership, then it’s going to be a unique dialog. I am open [to Saudi Arabia], however no longer at the moment.”
But when Saudi pastime re-emerges this summer season, Liverpool would have a major choice to make — particularly after permitting Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold to go into the overall six months in their contracts on the similar time this season.
Liverpool cannot come up with the money for to make the similar mistake with Alisson, particularly if taking part in the ready recreation has the knock-on impact of forcing Kelleher to transport on. Mamardashvili, in the meantime, is the forgotten guy who may well be anything else at Liverpool subsequent season — first-choice, bench-warmer or loaned out once more — if the membership fail to be decisive with Alisson and Kelleher.
However as for Slot, he simply must make a decision between 3 remarkable goalkeepers, which is not a nasty place to be in.
