Giorgi Mamardashvili has already matched Alisson Becker record since Liverpool move

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Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili has come into the side over the past two weeks after Alisson’s injury in the Champions League loss to Galatasaray.

The Georgian stopper had his transfer to Liverpool announced at the start of last season, though he stayed on loan at La Liga outfit Valencia for the campaign, with Caoimhin Kelleher as backup for the Brazilian stopper.

The Reds won the league under Arne Slot, and with Kelleher leaving Liverpool for Brentford, he’s come into their ranks to try and find his way past Alisson in an insurmountable task after a league win.

However, with 76-cap Alisson picking up an injury in the Champions League, Mamardashvili has come into the fold to take his place.

And a superb penalty stop during this weekend’s international break has conjured up a new statistic that will give Slot food for thought when it comes to first-team selection.

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Giorgi Mamardashvili secured more penalty heroics for Georgia vs Spain on Saturday evening

Georgia faced Spain on Saturday evening, needing a minor miracle and a win if they were to finish top of their qualifying group.

Ultimately, that didn’t happen with Spain winning 2-0 on the east coast, following a goal from Crystal Palace winger Yeremy Pino in the first-half and a second-half strike from Real Sociedad icon Mikel Oyarzabal.

However, Mamardashvili did what he could to help his teammates out by saving a penalty from former Manchester City attacker Ferran Torres just moments after the opener.

Incredibly, that is the eighth penalty that Mamardashvili has saved in his career, despite being just 25 years old.

An impressive three saved in the 2023/24 La Liga season was followed up with two last season, with Vinicius Junior, Iago Aspas and now Torres being victims.

Meanwhile, Alisson has also saved just eight in his career, with his most previous penalty save being from West Ham United star Jarrod Bowen all the way back in October 2022 – despite being eight years older.

Since then, he’s faced five penalties in all competitions, conceding them all.

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Giorgi Mamardashvili penalty save could tip Arne Slot Liverpool decision

It’s certainly an angle that Arne Slot will take into consideration and with VAR being a huge deciding factor in games nowadays, it could tip Mamardashvili ahead of the former Roma star.

There is no doubting Alisson’s quality, but it is quite unfortunate that the former Georgian goalkeeper has been on the losing side in both of his last two games, an annoying feat that is in no part his fault.

There are promising signs for him, and an incredible record from 12 yards could be a huge factor in replacing Alisson.

The 307-time Liverpool star has kept 129 clean sheets in his time at Anfield over the past seven years, and Mamardashvili will have work to do if he is to even match half of that.

But strong appearances for the club and for Georgia especially may give Slot some serious thinking to do once Alisson returns from injury at the end of the month.