Photo by Roy Lazet/Soccrates/Getty Images
Photo by Roy Lazet/Soccrates/Getty Images
Liverpool DP
Liverpool DP
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Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP via Getty Images
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Photo By Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile via Getty Images
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Photo by Paul Faith / AFP via Getty Images
Photo by Paul Faith / AFP via Getty Images
Giorgi Mamardashvili hasn’t had much game time at Liverpool this season, but he has managed to start four games for Georgia over the international break.
While Georgia failed to win any of their four UEFA Nations League games, Mamardashvili still managed to secure two crucial clean sheets for his country.
That included Mamardashvili saving a penalty as Georgia hung on to secure a closely contested goalless draw against Northern Ireland at Windsor Park on Monday evening.
Several Northern Ireland pundits were full of praise for Liverpool’s back-up goalkeeper, saying he had a ‘very good’ game and was the ‘hero’ on the night.
READ MORE:What Milos Kerkez did to Giorgi Mamardashvili after scoring past Liverpool teammate for Hungary
While the international break has given the likes of Florian Wirtz a chance to reset, Liverpool now look set to face Man City without some key stars. Has the international break helped or hindered the Reds and why?
Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak look set to miss the game against Man City 🙃
Andoni Iraola during Liverpool vs Spurs
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Bad time as Isak picked up a knock and Gakpo, who has been our best player, is out for a while. I HATE international breaks
Feels like the longest ever break, but the next one is not too far either😭😭 this definitely doesn't help anyone
Giorgi Mamardashvili stars for Georgia by saving penalty against Northern Ireland
Moments before that penalty kick, the Liverpool man had saved a one-v-one effort after a mistake from his teammate, as he produced an outstanding display away from club duty.
Josh Magennis was the man under fire for missing that point-blank range chance, as BBC’s lead Northern Ireland commentator stated it made Mamardashvili the ‘hero.’
The man who watched his penalty saved was West Brom’s Isaac Price, but the NI pundits actually didn’t want to blame their player.
Instead, they focused on Mamardashvili’s ‘size’ and how he did pretty well to dive to his right and deny Northern Ireland a crucial three points.
Stephen Craigan: “I had a bad feeling about the penalty. Isaac Price hasn’t had one of his best games, and sometimes when you’re not playing well then you don’t want to force something.
“It’s a comfortable save down the right for Mamardashvili. He’s had a very good game for Georgia.”
BBC’s lead NI Commentator: “Mamardashvili, he will be the Georgian hero having saved that penalty and also kept out Magennis.”
Stuart Dallas: “Anybody can miss a penalty. It’s a very good save. No blame on Isaac.”
David Healy: “The goalkeeper, he is a good size anyway, you can see that. You can’t be critical (of the penalty taker) – you have to credit the goalkeeper.”
What next for Mamardashvili?
Alisson Becker is still Liverpool’s number one, so Mamardashvili will have to continue watching from the bench when domestic action returns following the end of this long-winded three-week international break.
Mamardashvili did start and helped the Reds beat Tottenham in the League Cup last month, and you expect that’s where his next set of minutes will come from.
Liverpool host Manchester City at the weekend in one of the most anticipated Premier League matches in recent times because of City’s guilty charges.
Before Champions League football returns, with LASK first up for Andoni Iraola’s side, and later on in the month, it’s a home tie against Chelsea in the League Cup.
That’s where Mamardashvili can earn just his second start because it will come just before the next international break, which is in the middle of November.