The ECHO speaks to former Liverpool goalkeeper David James about Alisson Becker, Giorgi Mamardashvili and the future at Anfield
Alisson Becker, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Freddie Woodman and Armin Pecsi of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Melwood Training Centre
Alisson Becker, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Freddie Woodman and Armin Pecsi of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Melwood Training Centre(Image: 2025 Liverpool FC)
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If there is an acceptance that Liverpool are heading into a summer of uncertainty, few departments characterise that like their goalkeeping one.
For the best part of a decade, Alisson Becker has stood, undisputably, as the Reds' No.1 and at the end of his eighth campaign between the Anfield sticks, the Brazilian is widely regarded as one of the finest ever.
The debate around where he sits alongside fellow gloved greats like Ray Clemence and Bruce Grobbelaar will one day make for a healthy one around the watering holes at Anfield but the more pressing issue now is whether Alisson has played his final game at Liverpool.
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Juventus are determined to bring the former Roma shot-stopper back to Italy this summer and while the optics of a contract extension, triggered in March, suggest a club keen to retain their long-serving No.1, there is also a theory that it was more of a value preserver from the Anfield hierarchy to ensure he doesn't walk away as a free agent, similar to how Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson have done.
As one of the most accomplished keepers in the club's history, it might seem a misstep, particularly during a summer of sweeping change, to allow Alisson to leave and further deplete the ranks of leadership inside the dressing room.
But, on the flip side, there is the cold, hard-nosed business way of looking at things that shows the injury-prone goalkeeper has missed 32 of the last 114 Premier League games, with his 26 appearances this term being the lowest of all eight seasons to date.
For such a high earner to miss 28% of the last three full seasons might lead Liverpool's famously data-driven football operations department to conclude that a departure might be best for all concerned.
"I take this season for everything that has been well-documented in being very different to any other, beyond just Ali's situation," former Liverpool goalkeeper David James tells the ECHO.
"There was success, winning the Premier League last year. There has been success in the previous seasons with Ali not playing a full part (because of injuries), so I am not overly concerned about him not being there every single game
"However, the idea is that you want a fit Ali so you're not second-guessing when he's not playing. As I say, I think the big question would be who you would replace Ali with."
Liverpool took a proactive view toward replacing Alisson two years ago, agreeing to a £29m deal with Valencia for Giorgi Mamardashvili to join in 2025.
The Georgian international ended his first term on Merseyside with 20 appearances in all competitions and reached double figures in the Premier League, which was perhaps higher than he might have imagined when he signed.
Mamardashvili has previously explained that he is more than content to sit under the Alisson learning tree for now, but clearly there is a long-term succession plan in place for life after the brilliant Brazilian.
"I think Mamardashvili will get there," James says. "It is not a question of whether Mamardashvili will be the goalkeeper long-term, but if Ali drops out, you are going to have to bring someone in.
"Looking around the goalkeeping environment, there are a lot of potential candidates in the Premier League already [to come in at Liverpool].
"I know there are a few in Europe that I've seen that are young goalkeepers, but that's not necessarily to be the straight No.1.
"It will be interesting in the recruitment department. I'll go back to the point: the bearded Brazilian being in goal is my ideal.
"Mamardashvili has got all the capabilities. There isn't a question about what he is capable of doing. The environment that he finds himself in - and this is the nature of injuries - it is not like Liverpool are planning not to have Alisson, it just happens and all of a sudden you are called in.
"The season has been acceptable. Liverpool have qualified for the Champions League. It might be the bare minimum, but it has been achieved. Everything else around it from pre-season all the way through, he hasn't come into a settled environment.
"He has come into a very tense environment and I know it's a cliche that Liverpool are meant to win trophies - that is part of the nature of joining this football club - but there were other different issues that I would like to think the team won't have to experience going forward.
"If Mamardashvili starts next season as No.1, I think what we will see is a very different, experienced goalkeeper playing for Liverpool. We'll get to see why he was brought in because he is a very capable goalkeeper."
Such has been Liverpool's excellent record with developing goalkeepers in recent years that long-time deputy Caoimhin Kelleher is now a full Ireland international, starring for a Brentford side who just missed out on qualification for Europe this term for what would have been the first time in their history.
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The Reds' current third-choice, Viteslav Jaros, became a Czechia international on the back of an impressive, double-winning loan spell at Sturm Graz two years ago, before another stint as Ajax's No.1 was curtailed by a serious knee injury.
Armin Pecsi is a talented Hungarian who signed last summer and Freddie Woodman impressed when thrust unexpectedly into the fray for a game-and-a-half after Mamardashvili hurt his knee in April's Merseyside derby.
But should the allure of Juventus prove too much for Alisson, Liverpool will be left with the choice of either recruiting a deputy for Mamardashvili or signing a player capable of consistently challenging the giant Georgian for a place.
James, who was speaking in association with Ladbrokes, says: "I haven't done a full study but what I have found is that the successful clubs - and when I say successful, I mean respective to that club - they have consistent goalkeepers.
"You look at the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United when Senne Lammens came in, all of a sudden, you have got the same goalkeeper. Rotation hasn't been the key factor in the defence; I believe it has been the goalkeeper.
"If you are going to challenge long-term, then you need a consistent No.1. I'm not sure having two No.1s works. The caveat to that is Manchester City, where James Trafford is a No.1 but he only played in the cups and the majority of the Premier League games, it was Gianluigi Donnarumma.
"The irony in that - and this happened at Liverpool - is the No.2 won trophies at Wembley (Kelleher) and the No.1 hasn't won anything. But there are goalkeepers in Europe who are young and capable but not necessarily ready for Liverpool as No.1 right now.
"If Ali was to leave, I can think of one or two that I would bring in that would service Liverpool in a way that you would have that competition very quickly between Mamardashvili and the No.2 and create that scenario."