"Alisson has been Liverpool's undisputed No. 1 since joining the club for a record-breaking fee in the summer of 2018. The Brazil international may be 33 but his quality remains unquestioned. At this exact stage of the competition last season Alisson produced a masterclass against Paris Saint-Germain which rightly saw him hailed by Slot and everyone else as the best goalkeeper on the planet."
"However, that reliable positioning does not extend to his fitness record. Alisson's hamstrings have caused him problems throughout his Liverpool career. As recently as October, he missed an eight-game burst with a muscular issue."
"This regrettable inevitability is precisely why Liverpool signed Mamardashvili. The highly rated custodian was bought in 2024 and arrived from Valencia over the following summer. Alisson's autumnal absence provided the 25-year-old with an earlier opportunity to prove his worth as more than a No. 2-it would be hard to make the case that he took that chance."
Liverpool will face Galatasaray in the Champions League round of 16 without first-choice goalkeeper Alisson, who remains sidelined by injury. Alisson, the club's record signing in 2018, has established himself as an elite goalkeeper but has struggled with recurring hamstring problems throughout his Liverpool career. This latest absence highlights why Liverpool signed Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia in 2024. The 25-year-old backup goalkeeper now faces significant pressure to perform in a crucial European fixture. Mamardashvili previously had an opportunity to prove himself during Alisson's October absence but failed to make a compelling case for regular playing time.
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