Freddie Woodman will be Liverpool’s goalkeeper at Anfield on Saturday if Alisson Becker is not declared fit, manager Arne Slot said on Friday, after Giorgi Mamardashvili was ruled out following a leg wound sustained last weekend.
Slot confirmed Mamardashvili will definitely miss Saturday’s 3pm BST Premier League kick-off and the coming weeks, and that Woodman — who replaced Mamardashvili at Hill Dickinson Stadium during the victory at Everton — is fully fit and ready to play again versus Crystal Palace if needed.
The selection is significant because Alisson has already missed Liverpool’s last six games with injury. Slot added that Alisson is close to a return to play but warned the club must assess whether Saturday comes too early for him, leaving Woodman as the practical option should the medical team advise caution.
Slot also pointed to the club’s depth behind the scenes, saying Liverpool had signed an experienced third goalkeeper and that Armin Pecsi will be among the substitutes at Anfield this weekend, adding that the new signing is valued not just for goalkeeping ability but for his presence in the dressing room.
There are welcome personnel moves elsewhere in Liverpool’s squad. Joe Gomez is back in the matchday group after missing the Merseyside derby, which Slot called “really positive” because it restored cover at centre-back. But the midfield remains weakened: Wataru Endo has been sidelined since February and is not expected to be available next week for Manchester United or the week after. Slot said Endo is beginning outdoor work with the rehab team and the club is hoping and expecting him to return by the end of the season.
Long-term absentees still include Stefan Bajcetic, Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni, leaving the manager to balance short-term returns against ongoing gaps when finalising his squad for liverpool vs palace.
Opposition manager Oliver Glasner confirmed a boost for Crystal Palace: Adam Wharton, who missed Palace’s goalless draw with West Ham United on Monday, trained without issue and will be available for the trip to Anfield. Glasner nevertheless reiterated that Palace will be without two injuries, Eddie Nketiah and Evann Guessand, and said the rest of his squad carries no new concerns.
The practical picture for Saturday is therefore straightforward: Mamardashvili is out and Woodman is ready; Alisson’s availability will be decided close to kick-off. If Alisson is not cleared, Woodman will start and Pecsi will be among the substitutes as Liverpool rely on their short-term options at goalkeeper.
The tension in the build-up is the same one managers and medical teams face across the league — whether to risk a returning No. 1 when the team is already coping without its established back-up. Slot’s comments framed that choice plainly: Alisson is close, but the club will judge whether tomorrow comes too early.
What matters now is the late fitness call. Liverpool must decide if they pull their long-serving goalkeeper back into action after six missed matches or hand Woodman another start while protecting Alisson’s recovery; that decision will shape not only Saturday’s team-sheet but Liverpool’s plan for the weeks when Mamardashvili remains absent.
