Arne Slot set to hand out surprise Liverpool debut as injury impact continues

Add as preferred source on Google

Arne Slot is set to rotate his Liverpool team in the coming weeks as they contend with a busy fixture schedule.

The quick nature of games arriving has been a blessing to the Reds recently, with chances to right their form coming thick and fast after defeats.

Liverpool finally took one of those opportunities on Wednesday, thumping Eintracht Frankfurt to get back on track.

Following Saturday’s trip to face Brentford, Liverpool will then face another midweek fixture, this time in the Carabao Cup against Crystal Palace.

The cup clash at Anfield will be a chance for Slot to rest some of his regular starters, and with Alisson Becker still sidelined with injury, this could now include goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Since Mamardashvili assumed starting duties in September, Freddie Woodman has been the acting reserve keeper. Woodman may not have expected to ever play for Liverpool after arriving from Preston over the summer, but as Slot looks to avoid further problems, a surprise debut reportedly now lies in wait.

Freddie Woodman set to feature against Crystal Palace

Life as a third-choice goalkeeper is arguably one of the cushiest on the planet. You can train at a top club with top players day-in-day-out and never have the pressure of actually having to play.

Nevertheless, given he was a regular starter in the Championship and is still only 28 years old, Woodman’s decision to effectively retire for a season and join Liverpool did look a slightly odd one.

READ MORE: Tyler Dibling says midfielder Liverpool released is better than anyone he’s played with at Everton

According to The Daily Mail, however, his choice could be about to pay off in a big way.

They claim that with Alisson still out, Slot does not want to risk a problem for Mamardashvili.

The Liverpool head coach is said to believe that a back-up keeper should always play in the domestic cups, and as the current No. 2, Woodman is claimed to be under ‘firm consideration’ to start.

The former Newcastle prospect has reportedly made a good impression since his move to Liverpool and is described as being a ‘bubbly character who raises standards.’

Should Liverpool fans be concerned about Woodman?

While it is not ideal that Liverpool have to turn to their third-choice goalkeeper at all, Woodman is arguably one of the best possible options they could have in this scenario.

The former Preston man played 138 games across three years at Deepdale, and has played Premier League football in the past.

It will obviously be a step up for Woodman, there is no denying that, and Palace are a good team who could go strong.

But there should be no concerns over throwing him in, especially at Anfield. He is a far more experienced goalkeeper than Vitezslav Jaros, for example, who played – and played well – for Liverpool against Brighton last season.

It feels like the right move for Slot to put faith in Woodman while Mamardashvili is acting No. 1, it is now up to the keeper to prove that he could have a longer term future at Liverpool.