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Liverpool secured Mamardashvili’s signature last August in what became Arne Slot’s first signing as Liverpool manager.

The Reds agreed a deal worth €30 million plus €5 million in add-ons, with the arrangement allowing the goalkeeper to remain at Valencia for the current season before moving to Anfield in summer 2025.

The transfer represented Liverpool’s forward planning, with current number one Alisson Becker turning 32 and having two years remaining on his contract.

As Valencia CF continues their fight against relegation in the 2024/25 LaLiga season,  Mamardashvili has experienced a challenging campaign that contrasts sharply with his stellar previous season.

The Georgian international has seen his statistical performance decline significantly this season as Los Che battle at the wrong end of the Spanish top flight.

The historic Spanish club currently finds themselves in a desperate relegation battle, sitting 19th in the LaLiga table at the halfway point of the season with just 13 points5?

Los Che have occupied a relegation position since Matchday 8, highlighting their season-long struggles.

After being named the best goalkeeper in LaLiga for the 2023/24 season, when he prevented an impressive 9.7 goals according to expected goals metrics3, the Georgian’s numbers have plummeted this campaign.

While Mamardashvili was ranked as the third most successful goalkeeper in Europe’s top five leagues last season with a post-shot expected goals prevented figure of +8.2, that number has dramatically fallen to -0.09 in the current campaign.

But many analysts and pundits suggest that it is not necessarily the Georgian who is underperforming individually, but a symptom of a Valencia signed consigned to relegation.

As Mamardashvili prepares for his final months at the Mestalla, his immediate focus will be on helping Valencia avoid an embarrassing relegation to the Segunda División.

However, it has not stopped the Georgian from thinking ahead.

Gregg Evans of the Athletic has reported that the shotstopper has been making arrangements for his summer switch in the last months:

“Soon after the move was confirmed in August, he started taking English lessons and has recently been looking at living arrangements in the UK.”

“Liverpool also check in regularly and have monitored every game he’s played in.”

“Mamardashvili does not see himself as anything other than a No 1 and, while he is fully respectful of Alisson, he signed for Liverpool with the intention of playing, not sitting on the bench.”

While they will surely be monitoring their investment closely, Valencia’s struggles may actually provide Mamardashvili with valuable experience in high-pressure situations that could serve him well at Anfield.

However, the psychological toll of a relegation battle and the impact on his confidence will be factors that Liverpool’s coaching staff may need to address when he finally arrives on Merseyside.

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