A Liverpool player has received a harsh verdict over his display against Manchester United at Anfield as Arne Slot’s side fell to their fourth successive defeat
Giorgi Mamardashvili has been told he was at fault for both the goals Liverpool conceded against Manchester United(Image: Getty Images)
Giorgi Mamardashvili has harshly been told he was at fault for both goals during Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United. The Reds suffered their fourth loss in a row against their fierce rivals at Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday.
The result marked the club’s worst run of results since 2014, with £29m summer arrival Mamardashvili handed his home league debut in goal in place of the injured Alisson Becker. Liverpool suffered a disastrous start to the match as Bryan Mbeumo fired the away side into the lead, squeezing the ball past Mamardashvili.
There is certainly a case to be made that the 25-year-old goalkeeper was beaten too easily at his near post for United’s opener. He also dropped a cross from Matheus Cunha which almost resulted in a goal for Mason Mount.
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However, there was little the Georgian could have done about Harry Maguire’s late winner as the defender headed a volleyed cross from Bruno Fernandes home from just six yards out. Despite this, former United keeper Ben Foster has surprisingly suggested that Alisson would’ve come out to claim the cross if he had been between the sticks.
“For the first one, I was really disappointed,” the ex-England and Wrexham stopper said on his Fozcast podcast. “He got dragged into that space and he’s into no man’s land, because you’ve not got much space to operate in. He can’t go and affect the ball because you can tell Mbeumo’s just getting it onto that right foot and he’s shooting.
“What he’s done, though, is he’s closed that space and closed his reaction time off, so he’s basically just got to hope it hits him. Whereas if he had just stayed where he was, he could have reacted to that. When you’re not playing, you start to do things like that.
Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili has been criticised for his performance against Manchester United(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
“I think the difference is that Allison is so set in his position. He knows where he is. He’s so comfortable with his surroundings when that ball comes in [for the second goal]. When he sees that, he’s thinking, ‘Can I come for the cross?’ A goalie at the top of his game at this moment in time just comes and punches that away.”
There is currently no definite timescale set for the return of Alisson from the hamstring injury he sustained against Galatasaray last month. Mamardashvili made his Premier League bow in Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat at Chelsea, where he was left with little chance for either goal conceded by the Reds.
Despite Foster’s criticism of his performance against United, Mamardashvili received a vote of confidence from Liverpool boss Arne Slot earlier this month.
The Dutchman said: “We knew we were bringing in a very good goalkeeper, but when he plays his first game, that’s always the best way of seeing that he’s adjusted well or not. He’s adjusted really well to our club, which is not a surprise because he’s a quality goalkeeper.”
Mamardashvili is likely to remain as Liverpool’s No.1 in Alisson’s absence as the Reds now face a crucial run of seven games in 22 days. They include Champions League clashes at Eintracht Frankfurt and a home clash against Real Madrid, as well as a tough test in the Premier League away to Manchester City.
Speaking last month, Mamardashvili said: “I have had to be patient. It doesn’t matter if I play or not, I have to be ready. I work hard every day.”
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