Freddie Woodman, Liverpool‘s third-choice goalkeeper, is set for an extended run in the Reds team following an injury to back-up stopper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Mamardashvili had already been deputising for Alisson for the last month after the first-choice stopper picked up what has been a serious hamstring injury.
Against Everton at the weekend, though, the Georgian came out on the wrong side of a challenge from Toffees forward Beto when the equalising goal was scored, which resulted in a nasty gash on his leg.
After a lengthy delay, he was stretchered off the field and replaced by Freddie Woodman for his Reds debut.
It has now emerged that Mamardashvili’s absence will not be as long as first feared, but he is expected to sit out for a couple of weeks. That could see Woodman step in for two games – at home to former side Crystal Palace on April 25 and away to Manchester United on May 3.
Mamardashvili is the latest addition to a lengthy injury list for Liverpool, and manager Arne Slot spoke on the incident after the Merseyside derby.
Freddie Woodman (centre) is set for an extended run for Liverpool after injuries to Alisson and Giorgi Mamardashvili
Mamardashvili was stretchered off against Everton after suffering a nasty gash in his leg
‘Is there anything that surprises you when it comes to injuries with us this season?’ he said. ‘Maybe I already envisaged it because I had two goalkeepers on the bench today, which I normally don’t have but, of course, it has everything to do with the availability of all the other positions.
‘Giorgi had to go to hospital with a big wound, so let’s see how he will be. Freddie deserves a lot of credit — coming in just after conceding at 1-1 and their fans were ready for it but he did his job really well.’
Woodman, meanwhile, said: ‘I trained hard all season, didn’t think it (his debut) would come, but it’s obviously amazing to do it in a Merseyside derby and then to win it like we did was unbelievable. So, a really nice moment for me, nice moment for my family as well.
‘I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. Being a part of this massive club, you have moments where you’re a little bit nervous. But to be honest, I thought to myself as I ran on, I saw the back four and I thought I should be all right.’
Alisson had initially said he hoped to be back in training by the end of April, but there has been no sign that he is close to a return.
Liverpool have just the Premier League left to play for, where they are hoping to secure a top-five finish and qualify for next season’s Champions League.
