The Upcoming Battle

As the summer continues, Liverpool is slowly becoming Arne Slot’s team. With Trent Arnold-Alexander’s departure, the club sees one of its cornerstones depart.

A new arrival, however, threatens to displace another key player.

PHOTO: Irish Liverpool Fans/Facebook

Caoimhín Kelleher became key to Liverpool over the past few seasons, starting for Alisson when injured. His departure comes with the arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili, who looks to dislodge Alisson from between the sticks.

While Kelleher proved himself to be a good Premier League starter, it always felt like his career at Anfield was to be a backup. Mamardashvili, however, finished as a Ballon d’Or candidate, being one of the best keepers in La Liga. Perhaps the only positive for Valencia in recent seasons, Mamardashvili deserves a genuine chance to be the starter.

The Georgian’s arrival complicates the future of Alisson, as the team will now employ two top-class keepers. Against PSG, the Brazilian showed that he can still be an elite keeper. However, his availability and age seemingly concerned the team enough to bring in Mamardashvili.

Liverpool’s upcoming keeper battle feels like one of the more intriguing storylines heading into the season.

In what may be the first clash between the Klopp and Slot eras, the winner could indicate where the tide is shifting.

Kelleher used his auditions over the last few seasons to earn a move to Brentford, as his future never lay in Liverpool. If Slot wanted to make this Liverpool his own, bringing in a new keeper would be fitting.

Announced last summer, Liverpool secured the services of Mamardashvili from Valencia. A somewhat under-the-radar player, the Georgian became a favorite of analytics nerds. Given the giants at the top of La Liga, most never saw too much of Mamardsahvili before his transfer to Liverpool. 

Valencia continues to be one of the worst-run clubs in Europe, flirting with relegation almost every season. In between the sticks, however, the club found its lighthouse in a storm.

Playing behind one of the worst defenses in Europe last season, his numbers took quite the hit. Mamardashvili’s save percentage fell to well below average, but his penalty saving numbers remained impressive. Essentially, all the stats that wowed scouts stayed ok, but he failed to keep the ball out of the net.

Returning to his 2023/24 season, it becomes clear as to why Liverpool wanted to bring him in. Elite with the post-shot saving actions highlights his ability to react quickly after saving a shot. Given that it isolates a keeper from their defense, this stat shows Mamardashvili’s incredible reaction time.

At 6’6”, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that the Georgian stops just about any cross that comes his way. Furthermore, his ability to play out of the back fits the type of keeper that Alisson plays like. If the 2024/25 season proves to be a blip, Mamardashvili will succeed in the Prem.

Separating the Georgian from the Valencian dumpster fire shows a keeper who can be the best in the league.

For as poor as last season’s numbers are, it feels like the dip was caused by the defense in front of him.

Every season, there comes a stretch of games where Alisson proves that he is still a world-class keeper. That performance against PSG last season shocked fans and promised that the old Alisson was there.

Over the past two seasons, Alisson struggled with fitness. Notching around 28 games a season, the team operated with the knowledge that he would miss games. Hamstring injuries continue to hamper Alisson, contributing to 16 games missed last season and 15 the previous one.

When healthy, Alisson still remains among the best keepers in the Premier League. Yes, Liverpool’s defense stifled opponents, but the Brazilian stopped just about any shot coming his way. Unlike Mamardashvili, Alisson’s post-shot actions put him in a tier above all his competitors.

The caveat for Alisson is when he’s healthy. With two years left on his contract and continuing injury concerns, Liverpool realized that the end might be coming. 

Turning 33 in October, Liverpool needs to start prepping who is next to start in between the sticks. Again, Alisson is likely to miss a significant number of goals while continuing to age out of a squad that needs to develop youth. Slot’s youth revolution, as this summer continues to make clear, is here, and Alisson will be a casualty.

Mamardashvili is likely to spend the next season as the cup keeper and occasional starter, as Slot eases him into the team. 2026 becomes the real year of change, unless the floor completely falls out from under Alisson. To move on from Alisson, the club can’t afford to let the quality of play drop.

For almost six years now, Alisson has saved Liverpool and pushed the club into a new era, but the end is nigh.

The Georgian will have to bide his time, as the nets of Anfield will become his home soon.

Last year’s transfer arrives at a team fresh off a title win that is in the midst of a transitional period. Slot proved to be the correct choice to replace Klopp, but he is yet to make the squad his own truly.

Replacing the club’s stalwart in the net requires the team to nail it. Mamardashvili promises to be the correct choice, however.

PHOTO: Irish Liverpool Fans/Facebook