Giorgi Mamardashvili faces new challenge as Liverpool goalkeeper reality emerges

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Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker is facing a spell on the sidelines and opportunity now knows for summer signing Giorgi MamardashviliThey were both sights with which Liverpool supporters have grown accustomed over the years. But while there was a relief at Alisson Becker pulling off another one-v-one save to deny Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen on Tuesday night, what immediately followed filled Reds fans with an all-too-familiar anguish.Alisson immediately holding his hand in the air requesting treatment is an increasingly regular image for a goalkeeper who has had his previous two campaigns hampered by injury problems.Indeed, it was almost a year ago to the day the Brazilian pulled up at Crystal Palace with a hamstring complaint and subsequently wasn't seen for 12 games.READ MORE: Curtis Jones makes alarming admission about Liverpool's defeat to GalatasarayREAD MORE: Galatasaray boss rubs salt in Liverpool wounds after beating Reds - 'A sense of fear'The Reds will hope his latest absence doesn't prove as lengthy, although head coach Arne Slot painted a gloomy picture when instantly ruling Alisson out of Saturday's testing Premier League trip to Chelsea.It says much that of the 20 times Liverpool have faced the Londoners since Alisson arrived at Anfield in the summer of 2020, he has missed six through injury or illness.Not since the 2022/23 season has he played more than 35 games in a term, and only three times in his previous seven campaigns has the goalkeeper featured for more than 42 times for a team that has averaged 56 games a season during that period.Of course, the League Cup and, to a certain extent, the FA Cup and Europa League have not been his domains.

But first Adrian and then later Caoimhin Kelleher were the beneficiaries with extended runs in the team which led the pair to claim Premier League winners' medals in 2019/20 and 2024/25 respectively.Now, though, it is the turn of Giorgi Mamardashvili, the Georgia international in line for his Premier League debut at Stamford Bridge this weekend.Mamardashvili has already had a taste of English football with a composed performance in the League Cup win over Southampton at Anfield last midweek, and was barely called into action during his appearance from the bench in Istanbul as Liverpool pressed without any great real intent for an equaliser.Chelsea, though, will be a different proposition, particularly given Liverpool's worrying tendency to give away big chances this season that has ultimately caught up with them over the past week.But Mamardashvili is well versed in big games, having played seven times against both Real Madrid and Barcelona and six times against Atletico Madrid during four years at Valencia, as well as representing Georgia in the European Championships last year.And having made 34 La Liga appearances last term and made regular outings for Liverpool during pre-season, there will be no worries of the 25-year-old not being primed for a potentially lengthy stint in goal.Nor will the games be easy ones. After the forthcoming international break, the next raft of fixtures sees Liverpool entertain Manchester United and Aston Villa while visiting Brentford and Manchester City in the Premier League, with a Champions League trip to Eintracht Frankfurt and a mouthwatering Anfield clash with Real Madrid.And should Alisson remain absent for the League Cup visit of Crystal Palace in a month, there's a chance third-choice Freddie Woodman could feature between the sticks given Slot's approach last season when, with Alisson injured and Kelleher first choice, Vitezslav Jaros was handed a first start in the 3-2 win at Brighton in the equivalent round.Mamardashvili will do well to replicate the impact of Kelleher who, in 67 outings, had a win percentage of almost 72% and was on the losing team only 11 times.In his 25 Premier League appearances, the Irishman was on the winning team on 17 occasions, with six draws and only two defeats, although the second came in his final Liverpool outing at Fulham in April.There should, however, be no worries about Mamardashvili's attitude.

Speaking ahead of his £29million arrival from Valencia earlier this summer, he said: "I will fight for the starting goalkeeper position, even if the current goalkeeper does not leave the team."Now opportunity knocks. Liverpool will hope their Georgian shot-stopper is ready for his next challenge.