Liverpool has indeed taken too long to enter the summer transfer window, but it gives the new manager the time to assess his squad and see what players it lacks.

Now, it makes perfect sense why Liverpool is aiming for a new midfielder, but one can only wonder why Liverpool is going after a new goalkeeper in Giorgi Mamardashvili, especially with both Alisson and Kelleher staying at Anfield. And yes, the interest in the keeper is concrete, as Fabrizio Romano confirmed that talks are ongoing between both clubs!

Why Giorgi Mamardashvili?

Instead of analysing the player’s career, the focus is on why Liverpool is monitoring him.

Mamardashvili joined Valencia on loan from Dinamo Tbilisi in 2021. At first, he was expected to play for the Valencia B side. However, he impressed then-manager Pepe Bordalás so much during the preseason that he secured the number one spot over Jasper Cillessen and Jaume Doménech. Yes, it didn’t take him that long to cement himself as the first choice.

At just 20 years old, he immediately impacted La Liga with one goal conceded, two clean sheets, seven saves, and an 88% success rate in his first three games. Fast-forward to this year, and we saw the young keeper put in a series of outstanding performances in the Euros with Georgia, which is why multiple big clubs started to sniff around the keeper. 

Now to have such a meteoric rise and become a first-choice keeper for club and country at such a young age, you must be special, right? Well, let us delve deeper into what makes Mamardashvili so good!

Aged 23 and standing tall at 6’6″, Mamardashvili brings a unique blend of physicality and skill to the box. His impressive reflexes, strong shot-stopping abilities, and commanding presence in the penalty area make him a standout prospect. However, like many young players, Mamardashvili has areas in his game that need refinement. Let’s save this for later, though, so let us continue with his strengths. 

As mentioned earlier, the player’s height of 6’6″ gives him a commanding presence in the box, which helps him cover an extensive area of the goal. This gives him the edge during set pieces and aerial duels. But it doesn’t end there!

READ MORE: Jarell Quansah: How He Saved Liverpool Millions

His exceptional reflexes and diving ability complement this physical advantage. Mamardashvili’s quick reactions and agility enable him to make crucial saves, even from close-range shots. His shot-stopping skills have earned him praise as one of the top young goalkeepers in this regard. A save percentage of 73.8% is something to boast about and highlights his shot-stopping ability. And if you noticed the stat on the screen, the Georgian saved 50 percent of the penalties he faced, again highlighting his incredible reflexes. Now keep this in mind, because statistics do not always paint the full picture!

To highlight his shot-stopping prowess, consider his goal-prevented stats from the recent La Liga season and the Euros! On his own, Giorgi stopped 9.26 goals in La Liga and prevented another 4.53 goals during the 2024 Euros.

And to no one’s surprise, the keeper is extremely good at claiming crosses, another strength that sets him apart. His commanding presence in the box and physical strength allow him to dominate aerial challenges and secure the ball with confidence. This attribute is particularly valuable in high-pressure situations, where the goalkeeper’s ability to assert control can be game-changing. His strong reflexes and positioning on the line make him a reliable option for stopping shots from various angles.

Also, the impressive aspect of Mamardashvili’s game that stands out is his mental alertness, something that keepers only gain with experience!

The keeper is keenly aware of his surroundings and makes quick decisions that contribute to his overall effectiveness as a goalkeeper. For example, you rarely see him forget about a player in the far post. His utilisation of his frame and his ability to cover a large area of the goal further enhance his shot-stopping capabilities.

However, despite his considerable strengths, Mamardashvili’s game is not without its flaws, which is understandable considering his age. 

One of the primary areas for improvement is his footwork. Further explanation follows.

Good footwork is essential for modern goalkeepers, as it enables them to move efficiently across the goal and position themselves effectively for saves. Mamardashvili’s footwork has been noted as an area that requires refinement, as he sometimes struggles to quickly position himself. Fear not; this is a coachable issue that will only get better with time. 

The second weakness we want to discuss is the keeper’s tendency to rely heavily on long passes, particularly to the left wing, which indicates a lack of variance in his distribution. And this stems from him overly relying on his stronger left foot. This one-footed approach can limit his effectiveness in building play from the back and can make his distribution predictable to opposing teams.

Earlier, it was mentioned that his penalty-saving percentage is another testament to his excellent reflexes. However, it’s worth noting that penalties are another area he needs to work on.

Giorgi faced 24 penalties throughout his career. And guess what? He only saved five, three of which came during the last season, which explains his high saving rate. His tendency to stick closely to his line rather than come out to challenge the penalty-taker can reduce his chances of making a save. So, developing better techniques for saving penalties and becoming more proactive in such situations will be important for his development. 

Additionally, Mamardashvili’s tendency to remain close to his goal line rather than coming off his line to clear the ball or challenge attackers is another area that needs improvement. 

Modern goalkeepers are often required to act as sweeper-keepers, providing an additional layer of defence by intercepting through balls or making clearances. And here, the keeper’s reluctance to do so can leave gaps in his defence and expose his team to potential threats, especially when playing a high line.

In the 2023–24 La Liga season, his keeper sweeps per game stood at 0.41, a slight increase from 0.39 in the 2022–23 season. This marginal change suggests that while he has made some progress, there is still room for improvement in his sweeping role.

So, with all these strengths and weaknesses covered, how would Mamardashvili tactically adapt to the current Liverpool team if he joined?

Currently, Giorgi plays in a system at Valencia that does not prioritise playing out from the back. This tactical setup may contribute to his limited passing range and one-footed tendencies that were mentioned earlier.

So, in a more progressive system emphasising building from the back, like the current Liverpool setup, Mamardashvili would need to adapt his passing game to include more varied and accurate distribution. Increasing his bravery in passing through the lines and utilising both feet effectively would be crucial for his development.

In the 2022–23 season, Mamardashvili had a performance score of 17.391. However, in the 2023/24 season, this score dropped significantly to 4.167. This decline might indicate a shift in the team’s style of play, which could have impacted the data rather than reflecting a decline in the player’s ability.

The need for greater pass variance and improved decision-making in distribution is evident from his recent performances. During games, Mamardashvili favours long passes to the left wing, often clipping passes out to that side. This limited approach can make his passing predictable and reduce the effectiveness of his contributions to the team’s build-up play. Expanding his passing range and improving his accuracy in different areas of the pitch would benefit his overall game.

What About Alisson & Kelleher?

So, is Mamardhashvili a great keeper? Of course he is, especially when considering his age. But is he ready to be a starter for a team like Liverpool? That might not be the case. Which brings us to our plan in case the player agrees to move to Anfield!

See, the rumoured plan for Mamardashvili is to buy him this summer and loan him out to Bournemouth before integrating him into the first team. This seems to be an ideal pathway, considering Liverpool’s current No. 1, Alisson, still has a few years left in him, with Kelleher also showing that he’s more than capable of filling in as the number one. 

It should be noted that the Georgian goalkeeper is still 23 years old. To add some context, Liverpool signed Alisson when he was 25 and is now 26. After completing the planned loan move, it would put Mamardashvili in a similar situation.

Liverpool’s search for a replacement goalkeeper also raises some questions. Has Alisson possibly given a timeline for his stay at the club? Or is the club actively working on succession plans? Goalkeeper is one of the toughest positions to fill, especially when replacing a player of Alisson’s calibre. Another question to consider is how the club views in-house goalkeeping prospects like Caoimhin Kelleher, Marcelo Pitaluga, and Vítězslav Jaroš, who are all still young and hungry to take Alisson’s place.

Kelleher has already expressed the need for consistent game time, and Premier League suitors have shown interest. Klopp convinced him to stay last season, and Alisson’s injury provided more opportunities for the Irishman.

Jaroš, on the other hand, was sent on loan to Sturm Graz last season and returned to Merseyside after a successful stint that helped the Austrian side win the league. He featured in a pre-season friendly against United, demonstrating his quality with 4 saves, 21 out of 28 passes completed, and one clearance. His impressive ball-playing ability aligns with what Slot expects from goalkeepers.

Pitaluga had a challenging loan spell last season with St Patrick’s Athletic, which ended prematurely. His development and future at the club are uncertain. With Kelleher likely seeking a move for more playing time, Jaroš may need competition. Pitaluga’s stagnation creates an opportunity for Mamardashvili to step in. If Mamardashvili joins Liverpool, he would gain experience at Bournemouth while Jaroš learns from Alisson, preparing them for a future role at the club.

As discussed, Giorgi’s imposing 6’6″ frame, remarkable reflexes, and shot-stopping prowess make him an elite prospect with significant potential. His ability to claim crosses and command the penalty area further enhances his appeal, suggesting he could evolve into a top goalkeeper with the right development.

However, Mamardashvili’s game is not without its challenges. His footwork, penalty-saving skills, and tendency to stick close to his line are areas that need improvement. It’s also clear that he’s not yet ready to come into this Liverpool squad, given the tactical adaptation he needs to go through. This is why the proposed loan move to Bournemouth could give him valuable experience and a chance to refine his game before potentially stepping into a role at Liverpool.

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Rohit Kumaran

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