Former Liverpool and England goalkeeper David James has delivered a fresh warning to Alisson Becker.
James forged one of English football’s most enduring goalkeeping careers. Emerging at Watford in 1990, he moved to Liverpool two years later, making 277 appearances across seven seasons and winning the League Cup in 1995.
Following subsequent moves to Aston Villa, West Ham United, Manchester City and Portsmouth, where he lifted the FA Cup in 2008, the former England number one racked up 572 Premier League appearances and sits second of the league’s all-time clean sheet list with 169.
Speaking at the launch of Final One Standing, James discussed Liverpool’s current goalkeeper situation, praising Alisson as the “best goalkeeper in the world” before delivering a warning to the Reds’ number one.
“Alisson does pick up a few injuries though, and that can open the door for Giorgi Mamardashvili. If he gets an opportunity, Mamardashvili can keep Alisson out of the team.
Mamardashvili had a difficult season last year with Valencia, they were in the bottom three in La Liga for a long period of the campaign, but that wasn’t down to his performances.”
Mamardashvili agreed to join Liverpool in a £29 million deal from Valencia ahead of the 2024–2025 campaign, becoming Arne Slot’s first signing for the club. However, the Georgian international stayed in Valencia last season before joining up with his new squad this summer.
The 24-year-old spent four years at the La Liga side, arriving in 2021 and quickly earned a starting place with strong performances in his debut season, including 8 clean sheets in 18 games. Another strong campaign in 2023–2024 — 13 clean sheets in 37 league games — made Liverpool take notice and a transfer was finalised in August 2024.
Since linking up with his new squad, Mamardashvili made his debut in Liverpool’s first pre-season friendly against Preston North End — a “special moment” in his own words — and made appearances against AC Milan, Yokohama F. Marinos and Athletic Club.
Meanwhile, Allison’s pre-season was cut short due to personal reasons and he left Liverpool’s pre-season tour of Asia early.
The Brazilian stopper is expected to return for Sunday’s Community Shield match against Crystal Palace at Wembley, but if he doesn’t then, as James has warned, the door will be open for Mamardashvili to impress head coach Slot on his first competitive start.
