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John Aldridge Criticizes Liverpool’s Decision to Sign Mamardashvili Over Kelleher
Liverpool legend John Aldridge has expressed concerns over the club’s decision to prioritize the signing of Giorgi Mamardashvili over retaining their backup goalkeeper.
Caoimhin Kelleher believes he is the superior player. Aldridge, a former striker for the Reds, voiced his frustration at what he sees as a poor decision by the club’s management, especially given Kelleher’s consistent performances when called upon last season.
Kelleher, the Irish goalkeeper, was thrust into the spotlight due to regular injuries to first-choice keeper Alisson.
Despite being a backup, Kelleher impressed with his performances, making 26 appearances and keeping five clean sheets.
His contribution was significant, especially during moments when Alisson was sidelined, and many fans and pundits alike praised him for his solid displays between the posts.
However, despite these strong performances, Liverpool has already agreed to sign Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia, with the Georgian goalkeeper set to join the club in the summer of 2025.
Mamardashvili, widely regarded as a promising young talent, has caught the eye of several top European clubs with his performances in La Liga.
But Aldridge is not convinced that Mamardashvili will be an upgrade on Kelleher, arguing that the Irish goalkeeper is currently the better option.
Aldridge expressed his belief that Kelleher’s future at Liverpool could be in jeopardy with the arrival of Mamardashvili.
He suggested that the club could be making a mistake by pushing Kelleher out to make room for the Georgian keeper, who will likely be seen as a long-term replacement for Alisson.
Aldridge believes Kelleher is a valuable asset and should not be overlooked, as he has already shown his worth in critical moments during the season.
He told Sunday World, “I think Liverpool are making a mistake with their Ireland keeper.
Kelleher is better than Mamardashvili, who will arrive at Anfield next summer.”
Former footballer Thierry Henry has shared his thoughts on Arsenal’s match following their loss to Atlético Madrid on October 13.
Speaking during a brief interview on CBS Sports, Henry criticised the practice of players or coaches expressing certain opinions through the media instead of addressing issues directly within the dressing room.
“I’m not a coach anymore, but I always say, whoever speaks like that, out. Keep that in the dressing room, it’s as simple as that,” Henry said on CBS Sports.
“That is the only way it can work. You have to say those things to a person’s face… going through the press, I am not really a fan of that.”
Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has shared his thoughts on the 2026 Ballon d’Or award, revealing that he hopes the winner will come from his team.
The manager spoke about how hard his players have worked and expressed his belief that they deserve the recognition.
“What I hope is that we win this trophy. We have players who deserve it.”
“Last year, we were the best team. We showed that it wasn’t just Ousmane Dembélé who deserved it.”
French football pundit Walid Acherchour has named Lamine Yamal as his pick to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, sparking reactions among football fans.
Acherchour’s choice came as a surprise to some fans, who expected him to support fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappé instead.
Speaking about his prediction, Acherchour expressed confidence in Yamal’s chances of winning the prestigious individual award.
“For me, Lamine Yamal, he is going to get it [2026 Ballon d’Or]. For me, there’s no doubt anymore,” Acherchour said, as quoted by Actu Foot. That start to the season shows that in fact, he was injured during the World Cup. He was the best player in La Liga, and he won the World Cup.
“Even if, for me, in fact, he doesn’t have the Ballon d’Or unanimously because his World Cup was average, even being average, he won it with Spain. He won La Liga with Barça.”
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