Throughout the summer transfer window, Liverpool maintained a cautious approach of only recruiting players who would genuinely improve the team.
While this resulted in an unusually quiet few months regarding new signings, where only Federico Chiesa was brought in at the end of the window, Liverpool began future planning for one of their most crucial players.
The £35million addition of Giorgi Mamardashvili, who is currently on loan at Valencia and will join the Reds next summer, was a piece of business that divided the fanbase.
On the one side, the goalkeeper is a hot talent, who many clubs started to take notice of after a successful Euro 2024 campaign with Georgia, and bringing in a new addition to assist in the Reds’ long-term transition away from Alisson Becker seems a clever idea.
His price is considered to be relatively low, and while Alisson is only 32 years old with many years left at the top level, the goalkeeper is a position on the pitch that can prove most difficult to replace.
However, while Liverpool are currently dealing with the contract frenzy of Mo Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil Van Dijk – all huge leaders in the side that no Liverpool fan wants to see move on – the objective of purchasing a keeper we do not immediately need seemed a polarising decision.
Additionally, the Reds have been in desperate need of a new defensive midfielder, and while the club’s approach for Martin Zubimendi proved to be unsuccessful, many fans were yearning for the club to focus on alternative targets rather than leave the position understaffed.
Why the signing of Mamardashvili is a stroke of genius
In the last international break, Liverpool’s second-choice keeper Coaimhin Kelleher spoke out while on duty with the Republic of Ireland about his desire to play more first-team football and his frustrations over the club declining all of the approaches that suitors made for the player.
As a result, this solidified the notion that Liverpool would need a new second-choice keeper next season, as it would prove to be increasingly unfair for Kelleher to be held to ransom on the bench.
But Liverpool spending £35million on a recruit for the goalkeeping department would certainly be a bizarre decision if Mamardashvili were to be made second choice.
However, as Alisson came off the pitch earlier today against Crystal Palace with a suspected hamstring injury – his second injury spell this season – it has suddenly become clear why the club were already looking at future planning for life beyond the Brazilian in net.
For people who were confused about the Marmadashvili signing because Alisson is the best in the world, today shows why it makes complete sense.
That’s Alisson’s eighth injury for us. As good as he is, that is absolutely crazy for a goalkeeper.
— Laurie (@LFCLaurie) October 5, 2024
While Alisson has been a magnificent servant for the club over the past seven years, and his age should signify that he still has plenty of years left at the top level, his abundance of recent injuries is concerning.
This is not to suggest that Liverpool will be looking beyond Alisson quite yet, but having a young goalkeeper who is likely to be more reliable fitness-wise seems to be a smart move by the club.
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