Arne Slot has used Giorgi Mamardashvili – a goalkeeper who “could be a No. 1” – as a prime example of the quality Alisson offers to Liverpool as he keeps him out.
Alisson remains bona fide first choice at Liverpool despite a £29 million deal to sign Georgia No. 1 Mamardashvili from Valencia last summer.
But with the Brazilian’s contract expiring at the end of the season a decision looms over his future, with the club holding an option to extend that deal by a further 12 months while Juventus are reportedly interested.
Though his long-term role at Liverpool is no longer certain, Slot remains delighted to have Alisson between the sticks – as a goalkeeper good enough to keep Mamardashvili and Caoimhin Kelleher on the bench.
“In an ideal world you don’t need your goalkeeper, so that means you defend so well that you don’t need a goalkeeper who makes important saves for you,” he told reporters on Friday.
“But the good thing for us is if we do need a goalkeeper we have an outstanding one.
“We’ve already had him now for seven years and the good thing is we not only have one good goalkeeper, we have Giorgi Mamardashvili also – a goalkeeper who could be a No. 1.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, November 26, 2025: Liverpool's goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili during the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“So this club is in a really good place when it comes to goalkeepers and has been for so many years, because before Giorgi was there we had Caoimhin and he did really well for us and now for Brentford.
“But Ali has always been the No. 1 and that tells you how good he is if he can keep Caoimhin and Giorgi behind him.
“So we needed him once against Forest, after three minutes, and again he was there for us.”
Will Alisson stay at Liverpool next season?
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - Sunday, February 22, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk and goalkeeper Alisson Becker (R) applauds the travelling supporters after the FA Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and Liverpool FC at the City Ground. The game ended 0-1/ (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
With Alisson‘s current contract expiring on June 30, 2026, Liverpool will be required to make a decision over the future of a player who turns 34 in October.
Having rebuffed interest from Saudi Arabia in the past it remains to be seen where Alisson stands with regards a possible move in the summer.
Clearly resolving his contract will be the priority – and that is a formality with terms already agreed through next season – but Liverpool will also consider his own desires.
Liverpool Appearance Stats: Alisson vs. Mamardashvili 2025/26
|Competition|Alisson Becker|Giorgi Mamardashvili|
|Apps|Minutes|Apps|Minutes|
|---|---|---|
|Premier League|22|1,980|5|450|
|Champions League|5|416|4|304|
|FA Cup|1|90|1|90|
|Carabao Cup|0|0|1|90|
|Total|28|2,486|11|934|
* Data accurate for 2025/26 season via Transfermarkt.
That is also the case with Andy Robertson, who has held talks over an extension to a contract which expires this summer but was granted permission to speak with Tottenham over a potential switch in January.
Mamardashvili’s arrival at Anfield was designed to future-proof the goalkeeper position and the 25-year-old will not be eager to stay as a No. 2 for long.