Arne Slot has sought to explain why Giorgi Mamardashvili was not selected for Liverpool’s FA Cup clash ahead of Alisson after he played in the third round win at the start of the year.
Alisson‘s presence on the teamsheet for Liverpool’s starting lineup against Brighton came as a surprise, with many expecting Mamardashvili to make his 12th appearance of the season.
He had been selected over the Brazilian for the third round win over Barnsley in what was assumed to be a continuation of Slot rotating his ‘keepers for domestic cup competitions.
However, that was not the case,with Slot explaining that in the FA Cup this season he will “decide in the moment” as only the League Cup is reserved “for the second-choice goalkeeper.”
On his FA Cup selection, he told reporters: “For me, it wasn’t a surprise.
“Last season we made a different choice, by the way, in the FA Cup, that’s true, but usually for me, the League Cup is for the second-choice goalkeeper. In the FA Cup, I just decide in the moment.
“The first game [Giorgi] played because Ali came back from an injury, and I think Giorgi needed a game, and maybe was a bit too much for Ali at that moment in time to play another game.
“So I just judged the same way as I judge the football players, what is best for the team and for the individual.
“In this situation, I decided to play Ali again, which was, of course, a disappointment for Giorgi, because Giorgi is a very good goalkeeper, he has done really well for us when he had to come in for Ali, when Ali was injured.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 9, 2025: Liverpool's goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili during the FA Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“But I think you could see in my lineup that I mainly played the starters, and that also means that I played the starter in goal, but how that will look in the next game, I cannot tell you now.”
It points to the limited involvement Mamardashvili will expect to have for the remainder of the season, unless Alisson succumbs to another injury between now and then.
It is a deviation from recent years, which saw Caoimhin Kelleher make the cup competitions his own, saving Alisson for Premier League and Champions League pursuits.
But with Liverpool only in the mix for two pieces of silverware, it is understandable Slot would choose his first-choice to help ensure progression, even if Mamardashvili has shown he can be relied on.
Have Your Say
Is Arne Slot right to abandon the ‘cup goalkeeper’ tradition for the FA Cup?
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