'Probably': Tony Cascarino names Liverpool's best player all season - he won't be playing today

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Liverpool have not been at their best this season, but some players have shone more than others.The Reds will return to Anfield for the first time since their League Cup victory over Southampton to face Manchester United in a bid to turn their run of three defeats in a row around.What Liverpool fans will be worried about heading into this game is the performances of the team across the season, with individual errors leading to goals and defensive fragility plaguing this side.Join our newsletter for news & smart analysis. Arne Slot will be happy that the majority of his team are fit, including stars like Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike, who have been instrumental in some of the Reds’ better performances.However, one slight worry in defence is Alisson Becker’s absence from the game following his hamstring injury before the international break against Galatasaray in their 1-0 Champions League defeat.Photo by YAGIZ GURTUG/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty ImagesTony Cascarino believes Alisson Becker has been Liverpool’s best player this seasonThe Brazilian has been a calm head at the back ever since he joined the club in 2018 and has become one of the most integral players in the club’s success alongside Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.Sadly, another injury has meant that he will miss the United game and potentially the next two fixtures, as he will be replaced by the backup goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.READ MORE: Liverpool legend Ian Rush admits Sir Alex Ferguson once called him about joining Man UnitedTony Cascarino has praised the injured keeper for how he has performed this season and highlighted him as one of the team’s best players this season because of the defensive issues.Speaking to talkSPORT, the former Republic of Ireland star believes that if it were not for his important role in net, Liverpool would be much worse off this season.He explained: “He is a top keeper, so you are obviously losing him.

But if you look at Raya last night for Arsenal, he is literally doing nothing in the game. He does not have to because the defence are so good and tight, it makes his job easy.

But Liverpool’s goalkeeping job, Alisson, has probably been Liverpool’s best player this season, the amount he has saved.“If you take away how important he has been, because they would have conceded a lot more without the saves that Alisson has made, because he has. He has done it quite often already.”Giorgi Mamardashvili is still the best backup optionWhile he is such an important figure, the 33-year-old is being seamlessly replaced by the capable hands of Mamardashvili.The Georgian’s international break was very mixed, but his composure in saving the Ferran Torres penalty, provided he has the mentality and attributes needed to be a good figure in goal.READ MORE: Georgia manager shares what happens when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia faces Giorgi Mamardashvili in trainingDuring the Chelsea loss, Mamardashvili did concede two goals, but if you look at both of them, there was little he could do to stop either chance.His overall performance in that defeat was enough to prove that, as long as the defensive mistakes are kept to a minimum, he will be a brilliant shot stopper.