Mamardashvili's Road to Recovery: When Liverpool's New Goalkeeper Could Make His Stunning Debut

Liverpool's iconic former boss Bob Paisley held an old-school perspective on his players' fitness concerns.

"You keep your fingers crossed about injuries," he would often say. "That is in the lap of the gods." Those gods have shown little mercy to Paisley's old club this campaign.

The sting of Beto's leveling goal in the first Merseyside derby at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium was made worse by a serious injury to Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. The imposing Georgian was already covering for the unavailable No. 1 Alisson, forcing third-choice Freddie Woodman into an unexpected Premier League debut for the Reds.

"Is there anything that surprises you when it comes to injuries with us this season?" Arne Slot lamented after the match.

While it may seem as though Liverpool have been cursed by the unpredictable gods of fitness in virtually every game, the latest updates suggest that Slot's fortunes may be shifting.

What Injury Does Giorgi Mamardashvili Have?

Beto forced his way to the ball in the second half of a derby Liverpool would ultimately win late on, connecting with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's low cross in a stretch that drove his studs directly into Mamardashvili's knee.

The 25-year-old sustained a deep laceration and had to be carried off the field before being rushed to hospital.

After being discharged, Mamardashvili shared an update on Instagram: "Thank God everything is fine. Thank you all so much for your support and for being by my side. I'll be back soon."

Just how soon, however, remains uncertain.

When Will Giorgi Mamardashvili Be Back for Liverpool?

The encouraging news for Mamardashvili and Liverpool is that his injury is not as severe as initially feared when medical staff at Everton's ground were called onto the pitch. The Athletic reports that Slot will be without his second-choice goalkeeper for at least two weeks, though that timeframe could extend to a month depending on his recovery progress.

Liverpool face a run of season-defining fixtures fast approaching.

Between now and the close of the season, the Reds face their three closest rivals for Champions League qualification, with away trips to Manchester United and Aston Villa surrounding a home clash against Chelsea.

Next on Liverpool's schedule is Crystal Palace, a match Mamardashvili will almost certainly sit out. There is also little optimism regarding the left-footed keeper's availability for the trip to Manchester United at Old Trafford — though Alisson could potentially return by that point.

The Liverpool Games Mamardashvili Will Miss

How Many Games Will Liverpool Have to Play With a Third-Choice Goalkeeper?

Woodman had gone nearly five years between Premier League appearances before nervously coming off the bench against Everton. The former Newcastle United stopper is now set for his second top-flight outing in less than a week, as he is likely to be Liverpool's sole senior goalkeeping option for Saturday's home fixture against Crystal Palace.

Anxiety was high as Woodman was thrust into the intensity of a tightly contested derby, but he drew confidence from his accomplished teammates. "As I ran on, I just saw our back four and thought, 'I should be alright, you know, as they are proper players.' I thought I wouldn't be too busy and, to be fair, they looked after me." Woodman was called into action just once during his half-hour on the pitch but may face a sterner examination against Palace.

The Eagles, Woodman's childhood club, have already defeated Liverpool three times this season, including scoring three goals past their former academy product in a dismal Carabao Cup fourth-round exit back in October.

If The Athletic's projected timeline for Alisson proves accurate, Woodman's sole appearance may well come against Palace.

When Alisson Could Return for Liverpool

Alisson's absence has been a peculiar situation. The Brazilian himself suggested in March that he would be sidelined for "a while" with another hamstring issue. Yet when Slot confirmed his goalkeeper would be out until "towards the end of the season," Alisson took to social media to offer some contradictory reassurance.

"I haven't suffered any new injuries," he stated. "I'm currently undergoing treatment, and the plan is to be fully fit to play by the end of April!"

With Alisson still yet to return to training, the trip to Old Trafford on May 3 remains the circled date for the goalkeeper's anticipated comeback.