Giorgi Mamardashvili Must Decide His Future at Liverpool

Stan Collymore has urged Giorgi Mamardashvili to consider walking away from Liverpool immediately if he is not promised meaningful game time this season.

The Georgian goalkeeper, who joined from Valencia and turns 26 next month, played 20 times in his debut campaign at Anfield. He lost 12 of those matches and came under fire for several performances while standing in for Alisson Becker during the Brazilian’s injury lay-offs.

Alisson was heavily linked with Juventus over the summer but stayed put and has now been confirmed as Liverpool’s vice-captain by new boss Andoni Iraola. For Collymore, that decision sharpens the dilemma facing Mamardashvili.

‘Smartest career move’

Speaking to 10bet, the former Liverpool forward was blunt about what he believes should happen next.

“Goalkeepers and strikers need regular match minutes to develop – you cannot refine spatial awareness or match sharpness purely from the bench,” Collymore said.

“If Mamardashvili is told he won't feature in key Premier League or Champions League fixtures, seeking an immediate loan is the smartest career move.

“Accepting a pure backup role for extended periods risks framing a player as a secondary option in the eyes of other top European clubs. He needs to proactively seek regular first-team football to maintain his career momentum.”

Mamardashvili arrived as a long-term option and a high‑profile deputy, but with Alisson entrenched as No.1 and now part of the leadership group, the path to serious minutes looks narrow. Collymore believes that is exactly the sort of situation that can stall a goalkeeper’s career.

“There have been many players who join a football club and move on within a couple of months. It won't be the first time, and it won't be the last,” he said. “What Mamardashvili cannot afford to do is let the narrative set for the next six months that he is content simply being Alisson's understudy.

“If he accepts that, other clubs will look at him and ask why they should trust him as a number one if he lacks that internal drive.”

A warning from the Trafford example

Collymore drew a parallel with James Trafford’s situation, using it as a warning for any ambitious young goalkeeper tempted to settle.

“That mirrors the James Trafford situation. Rivals will assume he is happy sitting on the bench, taking the occasional League Cup start or meaningless Champions League group fixture. Why would you throw a goalkeeper like that straight into the Bernabéu against Real Madrid?”

For Collymore, the solution is simple, if uncomfortable. Confront the issue head-on.

“The first thing a player in that position must do after pre-season is speak directly to the manager: ‘Am I going to play in the matches that truly matter?’ If the manager cannot offer those guarantees, you request an immediate loan move.”

With Alisson’s status only strengthening under Iraola, Mamardashvili now faces a stark choice: fight for scraps at Anfield, or step away to prove he is more than just Liverpool’s insurance policy.