Liverpool icon claims star has ‘earned the fitting’ to start out as Iraola faces choice headache

Andoni Iraola faces a tough job in his first summer at Liverpool as the Reds look to replace Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate in the transfer window.

The Reds endured a miserable title defence that saw Arne Slot sacked and to make matters worse at Anfield, three key, experienced players all left for nothing. While only Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz have been signed so far, Iraola also faces a selection situation in the squad.

Liverpool signed Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia in 2024 in a £29million deal off the back of an impressive 2024 Euros with Georgia. The 25-year-old was signed as the club’s long-term successor to Alisson, 33, when the Brazilian leaves.

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Mamardashvili spent the 2024/25 season back at Valencia before finally joining up with the Reds last summer and playing 20 times last campaign as Alisson again suffered injury setbacks.

The Georgian finished the season as No.1 with Alisson sidelined but the Brazilian is back fit and looks set to remain at Anfield despite transfer speculation earlier in the window.

This leaves Iraola with a tough decision, whether to drop Mamardashvili back to the bench after he had the perfect opportunity to impress and bring Alisson back into the team, or if the Spaniard looks to the future and makes a bold change of the guard between the sticks by dropping Alisson in what will be his eighth season at the club.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star Sport, via Football Betting, former Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Friedel made his view clear that Alisson has merited his place as first-choice and said Mamardashvili should prepare himself again for another season playing second fiddle.

Friedel said: “Alisson is number one and has earned the right to be starting as the main goalkeeper. He has shown his world class calibre over the years and if he’s 100% fit then he plays and starts the season as the first choice.

“It’s a long season, plenty of games, so Mamardashvili will get plenty of game time for sure, but I would review the situation in January and if Alisson has stayed fit and healthy and performed well, then I would consider adding another year to his contract.

“But if not, then it’s a big decision for Liverpool, who will then have to look at options for getting in a new top goalkeeper either to come in as number one, or give Mamardashvili the chance to be number 1.

“They will work as a team as they want the best for the club and Mamardashvili will know Alisson is first choice and has been an unbelievably great goalkeeper for Liverpool.

“So as a number two, you have to be ready when called upon and take your chance. Be patient as you will 100% get game time and chance to prove you should be number one.

“For Alisson it’s about staying fit, being healthy and performing at the levels he knows he can.”