Giorgi Mamardashvili suffers injury vs Everton as Liverpool turns to rookie keeper

Giorgi Mamardashvili was stretchered off during the game against Everton, forcing Liverpool to turn to a rookie goalkeeper as the Reds are dealt another injury blow

Giorgi Mamardashvili was stretchered off during Liverpool’s clash with Everton, dealing a significant setback to the visitors in the Merseyside derby.

The goalkeeper was forced from the field after picking up an injury, prompting an immediate change between the posts as Liverpool turned to Freddie Woodman with the third-choice shotstopper making his Premier League debut in the first derby at the Hill Dickinson stadium.

Beto equalized for the Toffees just moments before the Georgian keeper was taken off. It is unclear what the injury is and whether it was caused from the colliding with the Everton striker or Liverpool left back Andy Robertson. Meanwhile, Chris Sutton was in no doubt about Everton penalty decision after David Moyes complaints.

Former Everton winger Pat Nevin on BBC Radio 5 Live at Hill Dickinson Stadium said: “Giorgi Mamardashvili really did feel there was something wrong with his knee there. Freddie Woodman is third choice but he is coming on. What an opportunity for Everton now. If you’re in blue, get that ball to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall as often as you can because he is the danger man.”

Chris Sutton on Sky Sports added: “Arne Slot has a couple of keepers on the bench so it was a decision for him! But it’s not good for Mamardashvili, whether it was Beto on the follow-through or Robertson.”

Woodman, 29, joined Liverpool in the summer on a free transfer from Preston North End, and had made just one previous appearance for Arne Slot’s side — featuring in a 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Crystal Palace in October.

Slot will be hoping the injury to Mamardashvili is not serious, with Liverpool already dealing with a growing list of absentees. First-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker remains sidelined, while Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo are all out with long-term injuries. They have also been joined on the treatment table by Hugo Ekitike, who is expected to miss the remainder of the season and will also be unavailable for this summer’s FIFA World Cup.

Giving an update on the striker before the Everton game, Slot said: “He hasn’t been operated on yet. “Devastating for him coming to a new club having so much impact straight away. Playing against your former club in a Champions League quarter-final with so much to come for him in the summer.

“First thoughts are with him being out for such along time, missing out on some many special moments. Not the first and not the last player to experience something like this at start of career and so many examples of players coming back even stronger, and 100 per cent he will be one of those. Maybe this injury makes me even more stronger and more ready to play at even higher level.”

Liverpool briefly believed it had weathered the pressure after taking the lead against Everton through Mohamed Salah on Sunday. However, the Toffees struck back early in the second half to level the score, with the incident also seeing Mamardashvili pick up an injury.

A draw in the Merseyside derby would see Liverpool drop to fifth in the Premier League table, but still occupy the final Champions League qualification spot.