Liverpool’s Champions League defeat to Galatasaray on Tuesday night has been overshadowed by a devastating blow, as first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker is expected to be sidelined until the November international break. The Brazilian suffered a hamstring injury in the second half at RAMS Park, forcing him off and leaving the Reds with a significant challenge ahead of crucial fixtures.
Alisson forced off with hamstring injury
The 33-year-old’s setback came while he was racing back to deny a Victor Osimhen attempt, after which he immediately signaled to the bench that he could not continue. His withdrawal left Liverpool manager Arne Slot with little choice but to bring on Giorgi Mamardashvili, who is now expected to step in as the team’s starting goalkeeper for the foreseeable future.
Mamardashvili, who made his Liverpool debut in last week’s 2-1 EFL Cup victory over Southampton, replaced Alisson in the 56th minute against Galatasaray. While the Georgian had limited involvement in the match, his international experience with Georgia—including a clean sheet in their 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over Bulgaria—has offered reassurance about his capabilities at the highest level.
Major fixtures at risk
The timing of Alisson’s injury could not be worse for Liverpool. The Brazilian is set to miss a run of critical matches, including domestic and European clashes against Manchester United, Manchester City, and Real Madrid. The absence of such a pivotal figure between the posts will undoubtedly test the Reds’ defensive resilience.
Manager Arne Slot refrained from confirming the full extent of the injury but admitted in his post-match press conference that Alisson will not feature against Chelsea this weekend.
“If one of our players is on the floor nine times out of 10 I fear the worst and with the worst I mean he cannot continue and that is what happened with Alisson. He will not be able to play Saturday that is 99.9 per cent (certain), although I think it is 100 per cent.”
Alisson underwent a scan on Thursday to determine the severity of the hamstring problem, but early reports suggest his recovery will stretch into November.
Mamardashvili steps into the spotlight
With Alisson ruled out, Mamardashvili is set to make his Premier League debut against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The 23-year-old has already proven himself on the international stage and now faces the biggest test of his club career, tasked with filling the void left by one of the world’s top goalkeepers.
Liverpool fans will be watching closely to see if Mamardashvili can rise to the occasion, as the Reds navigate a decisive period in their campaign without their reliable number one.