Ex-Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerveld has said he was surprised his former club decided to sign Giorgi Mamardashvili last summer and said he thinks it’s time for Caoimhin Kelleher to leave.
Arne Slot has an abundance of goalkeeping options and, before next season, could have three first-choice international stoppers to choose from. Alisson remains the undisputed No.1 – for now, at least – while a deal is in place for Mamardashvili to sign from Valencia this summer.
That, according to Westerveld, was a strange decision by the Reds, although he doesn’t dispute the quality of the arriving Georgian. “I was very surprised when Liverpool signed Mamardashvili,” he told journalists after Liverpool legends’ game against Chelsea at Anfield on Saturday.
“I follow Spanish football and I know how good this guy is. I said after the last Euros that he was the best goalkeeper in the Euros. This season he has been criticised a little. I’m not worried. It’s obviously for the no.2 spot, as Alisson will be the no.1.”
It also leaves the question of what happens to Kelleher, who has regularly shown his quality over recent seasons in the cup competitions and when Alisson has been unavailable.
“With Kelleher, I think his time has come to play regularly as a no.1 somewhere,” said Westerveld, who played over 100 times for the Reds in his career. “In the Premier League and Championship, he could be a great goalkeeper for almost all of the teams that there are.
“He’s a quality goalkeeper and he needs to play. As a fan I would like him to stay another a bit longer but then Liverpool would have two of the best goalkeepers in Europe [behind Alisson].”
Asked if he feels rotating is an option for goalkeepers, Westerveld replied: “No, I don’t think so. [Mikel] Arteta said something at the start of the season. My fellow Dutchman, Bart Verbruggen had that situation last season [at Brighton].
“You should have a no.1 and a good back-up, either an experienced guy who knows he’s no.2 and can come in and doesn’t need to play five games to get rhythm because he’s got experience, or you can have a slightly younger goalkeeper, like Kelleher, who shows himself and the quality.
“At the moment Liverpool are having a luxury problem and hopefully we can have that next season, too.”
Westerveld was speaking after he played just under 45 minutes as Liverpool legends beat a side containing former Chelsea players 2-0 at Anfield, with both goals scored by Peter Crouch.
“Always happy, especially with a clean sheet,” said the Dutchman. “I’m always nervous for these kinds of games because I don’t know how fit I am. In my head I’m still the 28-year-old that played here but when there’s a low ball and my head thinks like I’m going to dive quickly and my body goes so slow.
“So it’s always I’m very nervous during the game and then especially when I can make a save once or twice then I’m extra happy. But of course it’s all about the money, it’s all about the Foundation. It’s all about the crowd and the stadium so summing everything up, it’s been a perfect day.
Nearly 60,000 were in attendance at Anfield on a sunny Merseyside afternoon, with the funds from the game being donated to the LFC Foundation and its incredible work in the local community.
