Giorgi Mamardashvili is ready to formally be part of Liverpool on the finish of the season, after a remaining marketing campaign at Valencia, so how is the goalkeeper performing?
Mamardashvili has been a reputation hardly ever talked about since his £25 million switch from Valencia to Liverpool was confirmed in August.
Staying at Valencia for the 2024/25 marketing campaign, the Georgian has successfully stayed out of sight and out of thoughts in LaLiga, whereas each Alisson and Caoimhin Kelleher impress for his future membership.
The type of Alisson and Kelleher has raised eyebrows amongst supporters on the subject of the approaching arrival of a brand new goalkeeper anticipating the No. 1 spot.
So how has Mamardashvili carried out because the information of his 2025 swap and may Liverpool followers anticipate a altering of the guard this summer time?
To listen to extra about Mamardashvili’s season to this point, This Is Anfield spoke to Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow), editor of Soccer Espana.
Firstly, how has Mamardashvili’s season gone to this point?
Actually, it’s been a way more discreet season from Mamardashvili to this point, which is way more a perform of Valencia’s present type than his personal performances.
There’s nonetheless been video games the place you will have Valencia followers saying if it wasn’t for Mamardashvili then issues would have been a lot worse.
Each rule has its exception and Mamardashvili, having made an excellent save with the sport goalless, allowed Sevilla’s stoppage-time equaliser previous him with a weak hand on his return from harm in January.
It was a brutal mistake, however not a attribute one, and the shock from Valencia followers after was proof of that. That might be the low level of the season from his viewpoint.
That stated, it was fairly clear that final 12 months he was one of many high two or three goalkeepers in LaLiga; Mamardashvili stood up and was tallest each metaphorically and actually for Valencia final season.
This season, he’s been rather less noticeable.
What has stood out in his recreation within the first half of the marketing campaign?
If there’s one factor that has stood out, it’s his double save towards Getafe.
Along with his physique weight going the incorrect approach, he caught out a giant paw to claw away a shot from shut vary, and miraculously was up once more to push away a flying volley on the rebound at full stretch.
His reactions look quick even in sluggish movement.
That’s being talked about because the save of the season to this point in Spain, and it’s fairly onerous to mount a counter-argument. By no means hurts when that save got here in stoppage time, and saved Valencia some extent within the course of.
In any other case, the large information for Mamardashvili has been the gathering of the plaudits from earlier within the 12 months.
He completed seventh within the voting for the Lev Yashin award on the Ballon d’Or and likewise received Georgian Participant of the 12 months, the latter forward of nationwide hero Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Valencia are clearly struggling – is that regardless of Mamardashvili or has he been a part of the issue?
I’d say regardless of Mamardashvili.
There isn’t a escaping that his save share is right down to 59.2 p.c, when his earlier three seasons he has by no means dropped under 70 p.c. He’s additionally making a few save much less per recreation.
Even so, he’s about even along with his anticipated targets towards in comparison with his targets towards.
Valencia had a fairly strong defence final 12 months, however are conceding 0.3 targets per recreation extra, and that type of performs out along with his statistics too.
If Los Che have been extra porous, they’re certainly not a catastrophe on the again, and just one workforce within the backside seven has a greater defensive report. On the time of writing, they’re sitting backside.
Not that Valencia followers are predisposed to criticise him given earlier companies rendered, however I’ve not seen any of it, and nor has there been any suggestion that he’s accountable.
Mamardashvili missed their final three video games of 2024 with an harm and Stole Dimitrievski – who is sweet competitors – didn’t handle to spark any trace of changing into No. 1, with the Georgian taking up once more on the weekend.
Mamardashvili isn’t on the stage he was final 12 months, however he’s merely producing just a few miracles fewer and stays the most effective in LaLiga.
Once we final spoke you advised he was much less ‘proactive’ than a goalkeeper like Alisson – are there any indicators that’s altering?
Actually, not an enormous quantity.
He’s been below the identical supervisor (Ruben Baraja earlier than he was sacked in December), and dealing in the identical system, so it’s not likely been requested of him both.
Valencia have dropped deep once more this season, and so he’s not likely been pushing behind a excessive line save for end-of-game conditions.
It ought to be famous he’s nonetheless one of many goalkeepers in LaLiga that provides probably the most confidence and safety to his again line, however when it comes to – forgive the simplification – taking part in front-foot, Champions League-side soccer there’s been no actual improvement.
He’s taking part in about 5 p.c fewer lengthy balls and going ever so barely shorter, however that’s extra pure variance than a acutely aware change in my opinion.
Mamardashvili might begin on the back-foot with Liverpool followers subsequent season such is the recognition of Alisson and Kelleher – do you suppose he’s able to standing as much as that problem?
Completely.
From what I do know of the Kop, they aren’t prone to activate him even when they’ve an affection for Kelleher and Alisson.
However Mamardashvili got here because the third-choice goalkeeper at Valencia, and was actually signed to play for his or her B workforce.
There have been accidents to offer him his break within the first two video games, however he was taking part in first-team soccer a month after arriving and by no means actually exited the aspect after that.
He’s used to doing issues the onerous approach.
For Valencia, he beat out two established LaLiga veterans in Jaume Domenech and Iago Herrerin, with expertise of European soccer at Valencia and Athletic Membership.
Mamardashvili earned his first call-up for Georgia on the age of 21, and by 22 he was their first alternative too.
He changed Giorgi Loria, who’s a good distance from a family identify however is a veteran and had been the No. 1 for almost all of the final decade.
If something, he’s used to beginning on the back-foot at this level, and very often in way more hostile conditions than he can be in at Liverpool, even when the stress is probably not fairly the identical.
* Because of Ruairidh Barlow for this replace on Mamardashvili. You’ll be able to observe Ruairidh on X @RuriBarlow.
