Liverpool face their first competitive test of the Arne Slot era on Saturday as they take on newly-promoted Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
The Reds have enjoyed a successful preseason, winning every game they played in front of a crowd. Mo Salah appears to be approaching the levels of match sharpness that fans have become used to over the years, which bodes well ahead of opening day. Salah has a happy knack of scoring in the first league fixture of the season – he has managed this every year since his arrival at the club, with the exception of last year’s 1-1 draw away at Chelsea.
Off the pitch, however, things have not been quite so rosy. Contract extensions for Mo, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold have not been forthcoming, and the club have publicly missed out on three possible signings in Leny Yoro, Anthony Gordon and Martín Zubimendi.
One man tipped to be the first through the door under the Slot/Hughes regime is Valencia goalkeeper Georgi Mamardashvili. The 23-year-old is believed to be close to a £30 million move but is unlikely to be seen at Anfield this season, with a loan back to his current club a possible option.
On the latest episode of our Journo Insight show, we asked the Liverpool Echo’s LFC correspondent Paul Gorst for his thoughts on Mamardashvili.
“I LIKE HIM AS AN OPTION.” – KEVIN HATCHARD ON ALAN VARELA & MIDFIELDERS LIVERPOOL COULD TARGET
Paul said:
“He’s younger than Caoimhín Kelleher, isn’t he? He’s 23, he had a really good Euros with Georgia. I haven’t seen too much of him before Valencia but that’s a really good club to be at.
“I think £30 million to come in and maybe go out on loan, or whatever the plan may be for that, I think it’s quite wise and sensible.
“Against the backdrop of seeing the likes of Anthony Gordon not come to fruition and Zubimendi in particular fall away and no one else coming in, you just wonder why that’s been the plan now?
“On a list of 10 things to do this summer, that was probably 10th, maybe 9th.
“I think Liverpool are looking to plan ahead with Mamardashvili – 23 years of age, his best years ahead of him, but I wouldn’t want to see him playing for Liverpool for three or four years, just because that means that Alisson is no longer with us.
“Liverpool supporters would absolutely loathe to consider a world without Alisson Becker in goal for them and I can totally understand that.”
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Redmen Reacts
After a tricky transfer window so far, it is unfortunately slightly fitting that the news of the potentially imminent first signing of the Arne Slot era is underscored by a worrying feeling. Giorgi Mamardashvili – hailed as ‘outstanding’ by Paul Robinson – was one of the stand-out players of the early part of Euro 2024 and has been the first choice at Valencia since his arrival there in 2021. The only issue is – why now? It seems unlikely that the talented Georgian will want to play second fiddle to Alisson for any great length of time. Does this signal that the end is nigh for the brilliant Brazilian’s Liverpool career? Ali is 31 and should have at least another five seasons left at the top level. Provided he is happy with his contract, his lifestyle on Merseyside and the performance of the club on the pitch, the LFC hierarchy should be doing all they can to make sure he sees out the majority of the rest of his career at Anfield. As one of the potential coming forces of European goalkeeping, Mamardashvili would be a great addition if the club did not already have one of the world’s best between the sticks.
