Backup Liverpool goalkeeper Freddie Woodman is set to make his first Premier League start of the season against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Sky Sports have confirmed that both Alisson Becker and Giorgi Mamardashvili were absent from Liverpool training on Wednesday, meaning Freddie Woodman is expected to start against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
It will be his full Premier League debut after he played 32 minutes from the bench against Everton, following the horrible gash to Mamardashvili’s knee.
Alisson and Giorgi Mamardashvili were both absent from Liverpool training today.
Freddie Woodman is expected to start against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
[@SkySportsNews] pic.twitter.com/uZ531Q72iB
— Anfield Sector (@AnfieldSector) April 22, 2026
Slot confirmed after full-time against Everton that Mamardashvili’s knee wound is not a long-term injury and that he will return to action before the end of the season.
He said: “He has gone off to hospital.
“It looked to me, and that’s also what they told me, that he had a big wound – an open wound. That’s of course, not going to be a long-term injury. Let’s see if he is available for next week.”
Mamardashvili could return to training this week, but it doess appear as though Woodman is in line to start against the Eagles.
To date, the 29-year-old has played one game for Liverpool, ironically starting in the Carabao Cup defeat to Palace in October. He will be hoping to avoid making it two defeats to Palace in his only two starts in all competitions.
I was very impressed with Woodman’s cameo against Everton, especially as as he smartly intercepted a pass that van Dijk should have handled just a minute after entering the game. Great composure.
Well done Freddie Woodman. Van Dijk should have dealt with that but really good composure to take control of an awkward situation.
— Michael Mongie (@MikeMongie) April 19, 2026
Given Palace have beaten Liverpool three times already this season, they will need Woodman and the rest of the defence to perform as well as possible.
Everton had plenty of chances to punish Liverpool but scored just once, giving the Reds the chance to win the Merseyside derby in the 102nd minute of play.
Palace likely won’t be so forgiving.