Andoni Iraola confirms Giorgi Mamardashvili will start for Liverpool against Tottenham

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has officially confirmed that Giorgi Mamardashvili will start in goal for the upcoming League Cup clash against Tottenham. While Alisson Becker has been the undisputed first choice, the Brazilian will be rested for this fixture.

Iraola, who followed the Georgian goalkeeper during his time in La Liga, spoke highly of the 25-year-old. "I rate Giorgi very highly, I know him from his years in Spain. I told him we tried to sign him for Bournemouth before I came here, and for me he’s a very good 'keeper. He is going to start tomorrow," Iraola explained.

In a further defensive boost, Joe Gomez is set to return to the matchday squad after being sidelined since July with a muscle injury. The defender has been training with the first team for a week, and Iraola is now weighing up his involvement: "He is training with the team. I think he’s going to be available for tomorrow and now it’s a matter of deciding how much he can play and what is the best thing to do," Iraola revealed.

However, the news is less positive for Conor Bradley. The full-back is still in the middle of a long-term recovery and is not yet participating in team tactical sessions. "I think he is not close to training with the team. He’s training alone but he has started touching the ball," the coach stated.

Iraola also hinted at broader rotation, noting that he intends to field several players who have yet to feature this season. Having utilized only 18 players across the opening five games, the Spaniard is eager to test his squad's depth in a competitive setting.