Liverpool were slow to move in the transfer market this summer, partly due to manager Arne Slot’s pre-season assessment of his players. The first reinforcement was Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who plays for Valencia.
The 24-year-old goalkeeper, who continued to support his country from the back with outstanding performances at EURO 2024, will remain in Spain this season and will start life at Anfield in earnest next season. As a result, reserve goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher is likely to leave the club.
The Reds’ decision this summer came as a surprise to former Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, who was a defender for many years at Fulham and Middlesbrough. The goalkeeper, who does not possess top-ranked foot technique, thought he was out of Liverpool’s sights.
“The thing about that is, and we talked about it at the Euros as well, his strong point isn’t playing with the ball at his feet, Mamardashvili. He’s okay, but he’s not the goalkeeper.”
“That’s why I was a little bit surprised by Liverpool signing him. I think he’s a top-class goalkeeper and I loved him at the Euros. I thought he was brilliant. I just don’t know whether he’s the type of goalkeeper that Liverpool would want.”
“I don’t understand it because I don’t think he is the blueprint of goalkeeper that they would have, like Alisson or even [Caoimhin] Kelleher with the ball at his feet, because they’re both very, very good.”
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Neither Valencia nor the Georgia national team are high possession teams, and I get the impression that they shine more often in shot stopping than in jumping out to clear the ball or passing from the penalty area.
Liverpool’s scouts were given the go-ahead to acquire him after a thorough study, and they may have decided that there is room for improvement in ball control.
Perhaps he is also good at building from the tail end, but it will be interesting to see how he performs next season in terms of his first Premier League challenge.