“My time will come for sure.” Giorgi Mamardashvili opens up on his Liverpool patience as a late Alisson Becker injury hands him a massive Champions League start against Galatasaray.
Liverpool’s pursuit of European glory heads to the deafening atmosphere of RAMS Park this Tuesday, but they will do so without their defensive talisman.
In a cruel twist of irony, just as the Reds prepared to fly out for their Champions League Round of 16 first leg against Galatasaray, first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker was sidelined by a hamstring injury sustained during the final training session on Merseyside.
While the club has yet to confirm the full recovery timeline for the 33-year-old Brazilian, his omission from the traveling squad leaves a massive void. This marks Alisson’s second significant setback of a campaign already interrupted by a nine-game absence in the autumn a recurring frustration for a player who missed large chunks of the previous two seasons with similar muscle issues.
The Georgian wall: Mamardashvili’s big moment
With Alisson out, the spotlight falls squarely on Giorgi Mamardashvili. The 24-year-old, who arrived from Valencia in a £30m deal, has spent much of the season playing second fiddle. However, fate has handed him a starting berth in one of world football’s most hostile environments.
Despite being limited to just 11 appearances this season, the Georgian remains remarkably grounded. Speaking recently on The Reds’ Roundtable alongside teammates Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong, Mamardashvili reflected on the mental challenge of being a backup:
“It is never easy because there is just one goal. If I don’t play, I don’t mind. I have to work hard every day and that’s it. My time will come for sure. Maybe not this year but my time will come.”
Reflecting on the advice that keeps him focused, he added:
“My ex goalkeeper coach, Jose Manuel Ochotorena, when I was in Valencia, told me I have to find balance between ambition and patience, you know. I signed for Liverpool almost two years ago and I had to wait last season until I came here. It was a really long one year for me and now I’m happy to be here.”
Mamardashvili is joined in the traveling party by third-choice keeper Freddie Woodman, a seasoned professional who made 138 appearances over the last three seasons, largely with Preston North End. 18-year-old academy prospect Kornel Miściur travels as the emergency third option.
The injury news wasn’t limited to the goalkeeping department. Federico Chiesa has also been ruled unfit to travel. While the Italian’s talent is undisputed, his ongoing struggle with fitness continues to hinder his impact at Anfield, a narrative that is becoming all too familiar for the Liverpool faithful.
On a brighter note, Arne Slot welcomed Florian Wirtz back to the fold. The German playmaker saw minutes in the recent 3-1 FA Cup win over Wolves following a back injury. Wirtz recently opened up about his “up-and-down” start to life at Liverpool on the club’s YouTube channel, expressing a desire to put his early injury woes behind him.
Lessons from the past
History seems to be repeating itself for Liverpool in Turkey. Mamardashvili’s previous extended run in the team a 10-game stretch between September and November was also triggered by an Alisson hamstring injury suffered during the group stage trip to Galatasaray.
That period was a difficult one for the Reds, who lost four of the five Premier League games Mamardashvili started during an autumn slump. However, the Georgian has already proven he can handle the “glitz and glamour” of the Champions League, having kept a prestigious clean sheet against Real Madrid earlier this term.
Arne Slot surprised many by fielding a strong XI against Wolves on Friday, with Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Dominik Szoboszlai all featuring prominently. It was the fringe players, however, who impressed most; Andy Robertsonprovided a vintage performance with a goal and an assist, while youngster Rio Nguhoma dazzled with his unpredictable movement.
Nguhoma’s performance was so clinical that he is now firmly in contention for minutes in Istanbul. As Liverpool looks to silence the Turkish crowd and secure a first-leg advantage, all eyes will be on Mamardashvili. If he can replicate his European heroics and shut out a Galatasaray side led by the dangerous Victor Osimhen, he may well prove his own prophecy right: his time has finally arrived.
