Giorgi Mamardashvili linked up with Liverpool in the summer
Giorgi Mamardashvili linked up with Liverpool in the summer
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Liverpool’s current goalkeeper situation is a delicate one, and not for the first time. In Alisson Becker, the Reds boast one of, if not the best goalkeepers in the world. Yet the Brazilian continues to miss games through injury season after season.
Behind him, Arne Slot can call upon Giorgi Mamardashvili. Liverpool agreed a deal worth up to £29m with Valencia last year following the Georgian’s eye-catching displays at EURO 2024. The 25-year-old, who remained with the La Liga outfit last season ahead of moving to Anfield, established himself as one of the continent’s most promising goalkeepers during his three seasons in Spain.
But he ultimately had to give up first-choice status to complete his move to Liverpool. While Alisson might never be an ever-present because of injury, as Mamardashvili has already found out during his recent run in Slot’s starting XI, his starting status is undisputed when fit and available.
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That is why Caoimhin Kelleher moved on in the summer, leaving for Brentford in a deal worth up to £18m after belatedly being granted the opportunity to pursue starting opportunities elsewhere.
But it leaves Mamardashvili in a curious position as the Reds’ number two, with his own big-money arrival also presenting questions about Alisson’s own long-term future at Anfield.
Former Reds goalkeeper Chris Kirkland can relate to the situations of both shot-stoppers. Like Alisson, the one-time England international battled with injuries throughout his career, while Liverpool broke the British transfer record for a goalkeeper to sign the one-time England international. Admittedly, his £6m fee in August 2001 is rather modest compared to the £65m the Reds spent on Alisson 17 years later, but a transfer record is a transfer record!
Chris Kirkland joined Liverpool in 2001
Chris Kirkland joined Liverpool in 2001
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Meanwhile, Kirkland walked away from being first-choice at Coventry City to join his boyhood club. Memorably signed alongside Jerzy Dudek as part of transfer deadline day double swoop, he knows all too well the delicate situation Mamardashvili now finds himself in.
“It is tough, but you know that when you sign,” Kirkland exclusively told new ECHO monthly publication ‘Blood Red’, in an interview promoting his new autobiography, ‘'Keeping It Quiet' - The Chris Kirkland Story’.. “You want to play, but the goalkeeper, only one can play.
“The only way you're going to get in if you're number two or three is if the ‘keepers get injured or they have a dramatic loss of form. You know that.
“He's going to get games, there's plenty of games. He’s having a little run now. I don't know how bad Ali is, but it's for him now to give the manager a headache and say, ‘When Ali is back fit, I think it's harsh if you drop me.’
“It's tough because he knows that he's got to perform to have any chance of staying in or to get run in the team, he's got to perform to an exceptional standard. He's still young.
“It’s difficult for him going from playing to not playing every week, but he knew the situation when he came in. Obviously he would hope to dislodge Ali, but probably deep down he's thinking this might be a little bit of a waiting game until he does get in and then when he does get in, he has got to take it.
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“He’s got to perform and keep clean sheets and help the team win. That's the biggest thing. And then it's up to the manager.
“It doesn't matter what fans think or what the media think or anyone else. It's the manager's decision and the staff's decision. And they'll make them. They'll make those decisions.
“Alisson's the best in the world and has been for the last five, six years. Yes he's had his injuries and stuff like that, but you know for what he's given us and what we've won with him in goal, you take that every day of the week.
“Somebody eventually takes over him because that's just the way football is. But I still think he's got another two or three years at the top of his level, because he's outstanding.
“Mamardashvili has just got to be ready when his chances come, play well. If it is through injury, if it's through loss of form, which is not very often with Ali. I don't think I've ever seen him have a bad game, definitely not two on the spin.
“The goalkeeper situation is in good hands, but at Liverpool, you need two outstanding goalkeepers. But he's going to have to push Ali, that's for sure, because he is the best in the world.
Alisson is expected to return to the Liverpool side when he is fit
Alisson is expected to return to the Liverpool side when he is fit
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Looking back to his own dream move to Liverpool, Kirkland admits he would not have signed if it had been any other club.
He was only 20 years old at the time and had been anxious about leaving home. But intervention from one former Reds goalkeeper ultimately helped him realise it was a move he could not turn down.
“It was a dream come true,” he admitted. “To sign for the club was just the best feeling ever. It was Deadline Day, and the only thing I was nervous about was leaving home and being away from home and friends.
“Rick Parry, who was the chief exec at the time, he said, ‘You used to be a Liverpool fan, didn't you?’ And we were at Anfield, it was like ticking on towards five o'clock, I'd still not signed.
“And he said, ‘Come down to the pitch with me. Go and stand where you used to stand with your dad.’ And obviously there were seats there then, but I went and stood in the Kop and just everything flooded back then.
“And the memories and everything, and the dreams of one day playing for Liverpool. I went straight back upstairs and signed the contract and it was done.”
He continued: “If it was another club, I wouldn't have gone. If you said, ‘We're going to sign two, you're probably going be number two,’ I probably wouldn't gone.
“But it was Liverpool, it was my club. So it was very difficult to turn it down. I was nervous. I got the call, I was at Highfield Road and I was still involved with the youth team-ish. There was something going on with that.
“And I got a knock on the door and Gordon Strachan popped his head and said, ‘Kirky, come out.’ And he told me they've had a bid off Liverpool.
“And I must admit, my first thoughts were, ‘God, Liverpool, it's miles away from home.’ Steve Ogrizovic (Coventry legend and former Liverpool goalkeeper) was at Highfield Road and was amazing with me, as was Jim Blythe, the goalie coach.
“But Oggy was at Highfield Road for something and Gordon went, ‘Oggy's here. Do you want him to come in and have a chat with us?’
“And he came in, he sat down and Gordon told him Liverpool had bid and Oggy went, ‘Yeah, everyone knew that was gonna happen. What are you still doing here? You should be in the car on the way up to Liverpool!’
“I said, ‘I'm just a little bit nervous about leaving home.’ He said, ‘Listen, you'll be fine. Your home will always be there. This is Liverpool, this is your dream. Get in the car and get up to Liverpool and sign!’
“As soon as he said that, it calmed me down again. So I went straight back down and we drove up.
“But yeah, I wouldn't have signed, because there were other teams interested. We'd just been relegated at Coventry, which was devastating, but I wanted to stay.
“I was happy, I was number one, I loved the club, the goalie coach, everything about it was great. But there were a few clubs interested and I’d said I'm not interested in that.
“But when it was Liverpool, even though I was going to be number two, I was never going to turn that down.”
Of course, it helped that Kirkland was not actually aware that Liverpool were also working on a deal to sign Dudek until both were close to completion.
“I never knew that was going on,” he revealed. “I only found out, probably about eight months ago, I did something with Thommo (former Liverpool assistant manager Phil Thompson). We did like a sportsman's dinner thing at Anfield.
“And he told the story and I turned to him and said, ‘Why have you never told me that before?!’ So I've never heard it! They were going after one, it was breaking down, then the other one was breaking down, talks and everything like that.
“And then Phil just said, ‘Listen, just sign them both.’ And they did. But no, I'd never knew that was going on.
“The time I knew when they were going to sign two ‘keepers was when they signed two ‘keepers. And that's all I knew, nothing before that.
“I got the call the day before deadline day. So I didn't know what was going on. I knew that Liverpool wanted to sign me, but I didn't know everything else that was going on with Jerzy or signing one or the other.
“All I know is when I got the call that they were going to sign two ‘keepers. And that was it.
“I knew the situation once I signed. I was told, ‘Jerzy’s going to be number one, you're going to be number two. Bide your time, when you're ready and when we think you're ready, if the opportunity is there, you'll play.’
“And Gerard (Houllier) was true to his word. I knew I was still young. Yes, I've gone from playing every week to not. Like I said, if it was any other team, I wouldn't have come, but it was Liverpool.”
Chris Kirkland’s autobiography, ‘'Keeping It Quiet' - The Chris Kirkland Story’, is available from November 17. Pre-orders are available at www.curtis-sport.com.
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