Giorgi Mamardachvili yet to convince as Alisson’s stand-in before PSG test | OneFootball

At 25, Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardachvili is deputising for injured Alisson and has yet to convince, with Liverpool visiting PSG at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.

A year ago Alisson was Liverpool’s standout in a 1-0 win at the Parc. The Brazilian has an adductor problem and is not expected back before the end of April, according to L'Équipe. Liverpool will look to Mamardachvili in Paris, then next Tuesday at Anfield.

Given Alisson’s fitness record, missing 10 Premier League matches in each of the previous two seasons, Liverpool sought a high level understudy. Mamardachvili signed in summer 2024 after a standout Euro, making 29 saves in four matches for Georgia, then remained on loan for another season at Valencia. There he completed three full campaigns and worked with Jose Manuel Ochotorena, formerly of Real Madrid and Valencia and Liverpool’s goalkeeping coach under Rafael Benitez from 2004 to 2007.

Ochotorena died in October at 64, yet his advice lingered for Mamardachvili. He urged him to join Liverpool without delay and to balance ambition with patience, and the keeper says he believes his moment will come.

The 1.97m international, handed his debut by Willy Sagnol in 2020, has endured nine defeats in 14 matches for Liverpool. The club have activated an option to extend Alisson’s contract by one year, to June 2027.

Source: L'Équipe