“I have seen him in training and he looks rusty. Starting him tonight in Istanbul is the biggest gamble of Arne Slot’s career so far” – A massive update has emerged from Turkey as a Liverpool star’s two-month exile from the starting XI is officially over. Due to a “late fitness blow” to a teammate, the £30m+ star is suddenly the man tasked with keeping a clean sheet against Victor Osimhen.

The cauldron of Istanbul is no place for rust. The RAMS Park, where Liverpool have lost four of their last five visits, is an environment that demands sharpness, concentration, and match fitness. Yet, as Arne Slot’s side prepares to face Victor Osimhen in a season-defining Champions League last-16 tie, the Dutch manager has been forced into a gamble that could define his tenure.

**”I have seen him in training and he looks rusty. Starting him tonight in Istanbul is the biggest gamble of Arne Slot’s career so far.”**

That chilling verdict, delivered by a source close to the Liverpool camp, refers to Giorgi Mamardashvili—the £30m+ Georgian goalkeeper who has started just one match since November and now finds himself tasked with keeping a clean sheet against one of Europe’s most lethal strikers .

## The Late Fitness Blow That Changed Everything

Liverpool’s preparation for the trip to Turkey was already complicated. The Reds have endured a nightmare run of injuries throughout 2025-26, with Alexander Isak, Conor Bradley, and Wataru Endo all ruled out . But the most damaging blow came in the final training session before departure.

Alisson Becker, the Brazilian who has been Liverpool’s undisputed No.1 for seven years, trained on Monday but picked up a fresh problem towards the end of the session . The injury, described as a setback rather than a recurrence of previous issues, forced him out of the travelling squad entirely .

For a team already facing the Premier League’s worst statistical goalkeeper, this was a catastrophe.

## The Numbers That Explain the Concern

Alisson’s absence would be concerning at any time. But the statistical reality of his 2025-26 campaign makes it even more troubling. According to data published by The Daily Mail, Alisson has the worst record of any Premier League goalkeeper this season, with a net goals prevented figure of **-3.5**—dead last among 33 qualifying stoppers .

Yet despite those damning numbers, Alisson remains Liverpool’s most experienced option. His replacement, Mamardashvili, has played just once since November—a 4-0 FA Cup victory over Barnsley that offered little preparation for the challenge of facing Victor Osimhen in a hostile European away tie .

## The Georgian’s Record: 241 Minutes of Rust

Mamardashvili’s Liverpool career has been defined by waiting. Signed as Alisson’s long-term successor, the 25-year-old Georgian has made just **seven appearances** since his arrival, with only **three of those coming in the Premier League** .

His Champions League experience is limited to the league phase, where he started against Galatasaray in September after Alisson was injured mid-match . On that occasion, he conceded once in a 1-0 defeat—the same result Liverpool suffered that night .

Since then, he has started against Eintracht Frankfurt, Real Madrid, and PSV Eindhoven, but his last appearance in the competition was November’s 4-0 defeat to PSV—a result that exposed his lack of match sharpness .

Freddie Woodman, signed in the summer, will be on the bench, having featured just once all season . Young Kornel Misciur travels as third choice, but the reality is stark: Liverpool’s Champions League hopes rest on a goalkeeper who has played 241 minutes of competitive football in four months .

## The Osimhen Factor: Europe’s Most Feared Striker

Victor Osimhen is precisely the opponent no rusty goalkeeper wants to face. The Nigerian striker has scored **18 goals this season, with seven coming in Europe** . His latest strike came on Saturday, a 1-0 winner against Istanbul rivals Besiktas that extended Galatasaray’s lead at the top of the Turkish Super Lig .

Osimhen was also the match-winner when these sides met in September, his solitary goal securing a 1-0 victory for the Turkish champions . He tormented Liverpool’s defence that night, using his pace, power, and movement to create constant problems .

Now, with a potential suspension looming—Osimhen is one yellow card away from missing the second leg at Anfield—he will be even more determined to make his mark in the first fixture .

## Slot’s Gamble: Why Mamardashvili Must Start

The decision to start Mamardashvili is not a choice; it’s a necessity. With Alisson ruled out, Liverpool have no alternative. But the framing of this as the **”biggest gamble of Arne Slot’s career”** reflects the stakes involved.

Slot’s position is already precarious. The Premier League title defence has collapsed, with Liverpool sitting sixth and facing a battle just to qualify for next season’s Champions League . A deep run in Europe is the only remaining route to salvaging the campaign, and potentially to saving Slot’s job .

The Dutch manager has come under fire from frustrated fans during Liverpool’s slump, and results like Tuesday’s defeat would intensify that pressure unbearably . A positive result in Istanbul, by contrast, would provide momentum and belief.

## The Defensive Context: Konate’s Redemption Arc

Mamardashvili will not face Osimhen alone. Liverpool’s defensive unit, led by Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, has shown signs of recovery after months of inconsistency.

Konate, in particular, has undergone a remarkable transformation. After a period before Christmas when his form nosedived and errors mounted, the Frenchman has rallied impressively . His performance against Sunderland, where he won eight of nine duels and nullified Brian Brobbey, demonstrated the quality that once made him one of Europe’s most coveted defenders .

**”He’s an example of our season,”** Slot said recently. **”He’s been so unlucky. He’s played games where he’s been so good for 89 minutes and then one moment ruins our game and his game”** .

If Konate can maintain that level against Osimhen, Mamardashvili’s task becomes significantly easier. But the Georgian will still need to be sharp, decisive, and composed under pressure—qualities that rust can erode.

## The Midfield Shield: Who Protects the Defence?

Ahead of the back line, Liverpool’s midfield will be crucial in limiting Osimhen’s service. Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch are expected to anchor the double pivot, providing control and protection .

Both players have endured their own struggles this season. Mac Allister limped off against Wolves in the FA Cup, though Slot played down concerns . Gravenberch has been inconsistent, his performances reflecting the broader malaise affecting the squad .

If they can dominate the midfield battle, if they can cut the supply lines to Osimhen, Mamardashvili’s exposure will be limited. But against a Galatasaray side that has won eight of its last nine domestic matches and eliminated Juventus in the play-off round, that is a significant ask .

## The Hostile Environment: Istanbul’s Cauldron

The RAMS Park is not merely a stadium; it is an instrument of intimidation. Liverpool’s record there is damning: **four defeats and one draw in their last five visits** . The noise, the atmosphere, the relentless pressure from the stands—all contribute to an environment where even the most experienced players can struggle .

For a goalkeeper making his first competitive start in four months, the challenge is multiplied. Every kick will be scrutinised. Every decision will be met with a wall of sound. Every moment of hesitation will be punished.

**”A storm awaits The Kop,”** the match previews warn . And at the centre of that storm stands Giorgi Mamardashvili, cold, untested, and suddenly essential.

## The Florian Wirtz Boost: Creative Hope Returns

Amid the defensive concerns, Liverpool have received one significant boost. Florian Wirtz, the German playmaker who has been sidelined with a back injury, made his return as a late substitute in Friday’s FA Cup win against Wolves .

Wirtz’s creativity could prove vital in unlocking a Galatasaray defence that has kept just one clean sheet in its last six European matches . His ability to find pockets of space, to deliver incisive passes, and to link with Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike gives Liverpool an attacking dimension that has been missing .

Ekitike, meanwhile, has been one of Liverpool’s few consistent performers this season. With **16 goals in 38 appearances**, the French striker has exceeded all expectations since arriving from Eintracht Frankfurt . His movement and composure will be essential if Liverpool are to secure an away goal.

## The Suspension Tightrope: Walking a Fine Line

Beyond the immediate result, Liverpool must navigate the suspension landscape. Curtis Jones is one yellow card away from missing the second leg, having picked up bookings against Galatasaray in September and Inter Milan in December .

Conor Bradley also has two yellows but is already ruled out through injury, simplifying that particular concern . For Galatasaray, the stakes are even higher, with seven players—including Osimhen, Noa Lang, and Davinson Sanchez—walking the same tightrope .

Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk has publicly criticised UEFA’s rules, demanding change: **”There could have been a reduction regarding yellow cards for 10 matches. UEFA absolutely needs to change this after the number of matches increases. Seven of our players are on the verge of suspension”** .

That frustration could manifest in a more cautious approach, potentially benefiting Liverpool.

## What Victory Would Mean

For Arne Slot, a positive result in Istanbul would be transformative. It would silence critics, restore belief, and provide momentum for the second leg at Anfield . It would demonstrate that his squad can overcome adversity, that his tactical approach can succeed on the biggest stage .

For Mamardashvili, a clean sheet—or even a composed, error-free performance—would be career-defining. The Georgian has waited patiently for his opportunity. Now, in the most hostile environment imaginable, against one of the world’s most feared strikers, he has the chance to prove he is ready to inherit Alisson’s throne.

## The Verdict: A Night That Defines Seasons

**”Starting him tonight in Istanbul is the biggest gamble of Arne Slot’s career so far.”**

Those words will echo through the RAMS Park as Mamardashvili takes his position. The goalkeeper who looks rusty in training, who has started once in four months, who has never faced anything like this atmosphere—he is Liverpool’s last line of defence against Victor Osimhen.

It is a gamble born of necessity, not choice. Alisson’s late fitness blow left Slot with no alternatives. But necessity does not diminish the stakes.

For Liverpool, this is a season-defining night. A positive result keeps Champions League dreams alive, buys Slot breathing room, and offers hope that this turbulent campaign can still be salvaged. A defeat, particularly one shaped by goalkeeping errors, would intensify every existing pressure.

For Mamardashvili, it is the night he has waited for. The rust must be shaken off in real time, under the brightest lights, against the most dangerous opponent. He must be sharp from the first minute, decisive in every moment, and composed when chaos erupts around him.

The gamble has been made. The chips are on the table. And at the RAMS Park, where Liverpool have so often suffered, Giorgi Mamardashvili prepares to prove that he is not a gamble at all—but the future. 😰🔴🇹🇷⚡