Giorgi Mamardashvili quietly made a significant step forward after helping Liverpool beat Tottenham

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Dominik Szoboszlai took the headlines after Liverpool’s Carabao Cup third round win over Tottenham on Tuesday, having blasted home a sensational goal to clinch the game in injury time.However, though his goal deserved to decide any match, Szoboszlai was poor when coming off the bench for the final half hour, and the Hungarian and his teammates actually had goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili to thank for their spot in the fourth round draw.Mamardashvili has been subject to huge criticism ever since his arrival at Liverpool as Alisson Becker’s eventual successor last summer, but despite failing to deal with a corner which allowed Conor Gallagher to score, the Georgian showed why fans should not lose faith in his candidacy to take over from Alisson next year. Where should the Carabao Cup sit in Liverpool’s list of priorities this season and why? 🤔 Credit: Photo by Alfie Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images Mamardashvili proves his worth against TottenhamMamardashvili definitely deserves more grace from Liverpool fans than he has been afforded at the club so far, and there is little question that he is a much better goalkeeper than a segment of supporters would like to believe.Nevertheless, it has also been clear that the 25-year-old needs a big performance or two to really inspire belief that Liverpool will be in safe hands in Alisson leaves at the end of his contract.Though many will point to Gallagher’s goal as further evidence that Mamardashvili cannot be trusted, they should instead look to the three big saves he made to keep Liverpool in Tuesday’s game.It could have been a very different match had he not thwarted Lucas Bergvall from close range in the early stages, while his stop to deny Mohammed Kudus in the second-half also showed good reflexes, even if he could have parried the ball away from goal.READ MORE: Andoni Iraola names the ‘best thing’ about Liverpool’s Carabao Cup win over TottenhamMamardashvili had looked to have undone all of his good work by getting underneath the corner Gallagher scored from, and had Liverpool gone on to concede another goal, that could have seen his confidence knocked even more and added to the chorus of bizarre ill-will towards him.Instead, the former Valencia goalkeeper stood up strong and made what could well go down as the best save any Liverpool keeper will make this season.Omar Marmoush’s shot had looked destined for the net after taking a nick off a Liverpool toe from barely six yards out.

But from nowhere, Mamardashvili flung out a strong right hand and not only stopped the ball going into the net, but somehow got it up and over the bar. It was a truly brilliant save from the Georgia international, and one which ultimately decided the game.Szoboszlai’s strike may have been what killed Spurs off just before the final whistle, but had Mamardashvili not have thwarted Marmoush, that may never have happened.

The away team had their tails up and would have fancied their chances at getting a third goal or winning on penalties.Thankfully, Liverpool’s much-maligned second-choice had other ideas, and in bouncing back from a poor moment to deliver a game-defining stop, Mamardashvili took a significant step towards the supporter acceptance which has so far eluded him at Anfield. Join Our NewsletterReceive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox