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Worse than Mamardashvili: Iraola must axe Liverpool star who lost the ball every 2 touches -…

Mamardashvili-Liverpool-Bournemouth

The result itself will have been pleasing enough for Andoni Iraola, although the Spaniard will also have been delighted by the performance of Liverpool's peripheral figures in Tuesday's Carabao Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur.

Indeed, it proved a fine night for the Reds' academy set-up as the likes of Trey Nyoni, Lewis Koumas and James McConnell all shone in that 3-1 win, while even the returning full-back pairing of Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez looked up to the task against Roberto De Zerbi's men.

The headlines, of course, belonged to the goalscorers, with Dominik Szoboszlai stealing the show at the death, but it'd be hard to analyse this game without mentioning a certain Giorgi Mamardashvili.

REUTERS/Scott Heppell

The Georgian giant may not be taking the gloves from Alisson just yet, as his key error highlighted, but there was still plenty to be encouraged by.

How Mamardashvili performed in mixed display vs Spurs

We'll come to the 25-year-old's mistake later, but let's start with the positives, the former Valencia man largely looking imperious in what was a high-octane, end-to-end encounter at Anfield.

Mamardashvili-Liverpool-Chelsea

Had it not been for a string of fine stops from the stand-in 'keeper, Liverpool might well have found themselves crashing out of the competition, with Mamardashvili repeatedly thwarting the away side.

In the first-half, for instance, he expertly stuck out a leg to deny young Lucas Bergvall with the game still level, with Spurs having arguably made the brighter start at that stage.

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After the break too, Liverpool's number 25 also got down well to keep out a fizzing effort from Mohammed Kudus, the Ghanaian earlier flashing an effort over the bar following Destiny Udogie's pull-back.

Mamardashvili's best intervention, however, saw the polarising 'keeper somehow keep out Omar Marmoush's deflected effort, reacting in double-quick time to tip the ball over the bar with his right glove.

What was a largely perfect night was only spoiled by his involvement in Spurs' goal, the towering goalkeeper caught underneath the ball as Conor Gallagher prodded home to spark a nervy finish on Merseyside.

That moment perhaps explains why Mamardashvili, as yet, hasn't replaced the great Alisson in the sticks, with there still issues to iron out before he can truly become a first-team regular.

He's not alone in that regard either.

Why Liverpool star could be benched after Spurs showing

As Mamardashvili's interventions showcased, Liverpool certainly weren't perfect nor wholly dominant on Tuesday evening, with there still holes to pick in their performance.

There will be particular concern at how the momentum swung in Tottenham's favour despite Iraola having called in the cavalry late on, with the introduction of Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch seeing the Reds cede control in central midfield.

Among those who started proceedings, Mamardashvili's error has put him under the microscope, even for all his good work, while it also provided a mixed bag of a performance for young Rio Ngumoha on the right flank.

Now, it must be said that the teenager is still somewhat hamstrung by his deployment on the right flank, with it clear to see that he looks so much more effective when cutting in from the opposite side.

Equally too, it wasn't as if everything went against him against the north London side, having been involved in the build-up to the opening two goals, with his driving run ultimately resulting in the ball falling to the feet of Alexis Mac Allister for the opener.

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Liverpool Player Ratings vs Spurs

Player

GK - Mamardashvili

RB - Frimpong

CB - Araujo

CB - Gomez

LB - Kerkez

CM - Nyoni

CM - Mac Allister

AM - McConnell

RW - Ngumoha

LW - Gakpo

ST - Koumas

And yet, on a night in which he really could have made that right flank his own, the 17-year-old did struggle to really put his stamp on proceedings.

In all, the former Chelsea starlet recorded just 24 touches in 72 minutes on the field, losing the ball 11 times in the process to ensure he squandered possession roughly once every two touches.

Arsenal Dowman

Arsenal Dowman

For an attacking player, that type of return isn't disastrous, but it did showcase Ngumoha's inability to get the better of Destiny Udogie and the returning Andy Robertson down that flank, having also completed just one successful dribble all night.

He did create one 'big chance', yet failed to successfully complete a single cross from that right-wing berth, largely drifting in and out of the game in truth.

REUTERS/Scott Heppell

With Cody Gakpo, the scorer of the second, looking nailed on to take up a role on either the left or the right moving forward, Ngumoha will have to compete with Victor Munoz and £123m man, Bradley Barcola for that remaining starting berth on the flanks.

This was then an ideal opportunity to make himself almost undroppable, and yet it wouldn't be a surprise to see one of Munoz or Barcola take his place instead this weekend.

REUTERS/Phil Noble

Like with Mamardashvili, it surely won't be long before Ngumoha is an undisputed regular in this team, although in the short-term, he may well have to make way.

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