Giorgi Mamardashvili sends Liverpool timely reminder with Real Madrid heroics

Liverpool already has two brilliant goalkeepers and it will welcome a third this summer when links up with his new club.

Mamardashvili was one of only two signings the Reds made during last summer's transfer window, but on loan for the season as the Reds already had and Caoimhin Kelleher.

Both Alisson and Kelleher have played a significant amount of games this season, with the Brazilian playing 28 to the Irishman's 19, but .

Thus, Mamardashvili is expected to provide Alisson with his main competition next term, and he demonstrated his quality in a La Liga game against Real Madrid on Saturday, saving a penalty from Vinicius Junior.

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In truth, Vinicius' penalty was poor as he failed to find the corner, but Mamardashvili dived the right way, keeping the ball out with his knee. Valencia is in a relegation battle this season and Mamardashvili's penalty save helped the team to secure a stunning victory at the Bernabeu, as Hugo Duro scored a 95th-minute winner for the visiting team.

The 24-year-old made a total eight saves Madrid to underline his quality, and his performance earned him the man-of-the-match award.

Speaking last October, Mamardashvili unsurprisingly backed himself to take the No.1 spot away from Alisson when he arrives at Liverpool. “I was attracted by Liverpool’s project when the club’s representatives met me to sign me,” the Georgian said. “I will fight for the starting goalkeeper position, even if the current goalkeeper does not leave the team.”

Meanwhile, Virgil van Dijk has told Kelleher to stay focused as Liverpool aims to wrap up the title in the coming weeks. Kelleher started a Premier League game for the first time since December as he kept a clean sheet in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday.

Asked after the match what his advice would be for Kelleher ahead of an expected summer exit, Van Dijk responded: “Be a Premier League champion, and that’s what the aim is for the rest of the season and what happens next after the season – we’ll see then. He has a big job on his hands now, whether he starts or has to make sure that Ali is ready – that’s the main target. We are committed to the club and we all have to fight in order to get our dreams, big dream, ready.”

Speaking last September, Kelleher said: "I've made it clear in the last few years that I want to go and be a number one and play week in, week out. The club's made that decision to get another goalkeeper (Mamardashvili) and from the outside looking in, it looks like they've made a decision to go in a different direction."