Liverpool have built a very impressive goalkeeping department over recent years.
The Reds arguably have the best number one in the world today, with Alisson Becker still the standard-setter between the sticks.
With Alisson regularly out injured, though, Liverpool have had to rely on Caoimhin Kelleher a little more than they might have liked.
Thankfully, Kelleher is a fantastic goalkeeper as well. The Irishman has now played Liverpool’s last two games and with Alisson set to miss the next five at least will continue for the time being.
But Kelleher wants to be a number one and is clearly good enough to make the step up. As a result, Liverpool signed Giorgi Mamardashvili last summer to prepare for the 25-year-old’s exit.
And as Kelleher continues to impress in Alisson’s absence, focus has shifted to what the plan could be for when he inevitably leaves next summer.
Liverpool not ruling out Giorgi Mamardashvili plan
It will be fascinating to see what happens with Liverpool’s goalkeepers next summer.
This year, the hierarchy is already set. Kelleher is now a very senior back-up to Alisson, with the Ireland international set to play more than your average number two.
Beyond that pair, Vitezslav Jaros has shown he can do a job as well and may have his eyes on the second choice slot if Kelleher leaves.
With Mamardashvili’s impending arrival to contend with too, journalist David Lynch has explained what Liverpool’s current thinking may be.
READ MORE: Giorgi Mamardashvili confirms what he’s planning to do at Liverpool if Alisson doesn’t leave
“I think the expectation on their side is that Kelleher will leave next summer,” Lynch tells Anfield Agenda. “But beyond that, you’ve got the choice to send Mamardashvili out on-loan again if Alisson doesn’t want to go to Saudi yet. They’re happy with that situation.
“They’ve got the opportunity to keep Alisson at the club and say maybe he goes to Saudi the year after that and bring Mamardashvili in so he can acclimatise and be the number two and compete for that role. That is a possibility that they’re not ruling out.
“Or if Mamardashvili does go out on-loan again, then that allows Jaros to step up and be the number two for a year,” he adds. “That’s an option that Liverpool again wouldn’t rule out because they think he’s a fantastic goalkeeper.”
Which is the best option for Liverpool?
Despite his arrival for relatively big money, it is debatable whether Mamardashvili is a better goalkeeper than Kelleher.
But with the Liverpool academy graduate desperate to finally play week-in-week-out as a starting goalie, most Reds fans will be fine with Kelleher leaving.
The possibility to then keep Mamardashvili out playing regularly as a starter for another season doesn’t really make a great deal of sense to us.
Yes, he would get significantly more minutes than playing back-up to Alisson, but we think it would be more beneficial to have him settling in at Anfield and learning the ropes away from the spotlight.
It’s likely that Liverpool haven’t made a decision on this just yet and that will also likely see Jaros leave the club. But given Alisson’s injuries and Kelleher’s probably departure, we’d be all for bringing Mamardashvili in in 2025.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
