NewsGiorgi Mamardashvili interview: Potential debut, settling in, Alisson and No.25 shirt
Giorgi Mamardashvili is ready to seize his moment between the sticks for Liverpool.
The Georgian goalkeeper arrived from Valencia in the summer and, having featured regularly in pre-season, is eagerly awaiting his competitive debut.
That bow could come on Tuesday night at Anfield, with Arne Slot intending to make changes to his team for the Carabao Cup third-round tie with Southampton.
"I have had to be patient," Mamardashvili told Liverpoolfc.com at the AXA Training Centre. "I worked hard and I'm so [excited] to make my debut, my first official game. I'm so happy.
"It doesn't matter if I play or not, I have to be ready. I work hard every day."
Nearly three months into his Liverpool career, Mamardashvili feels he has settled in well inside the club and surrounding area.
In terms of on-the-pitch matters, his already high expectations about the squad he joined have been well and truly exceeded.
The 24-year-old said: "Really good people. Ali [Becker] helped me a lot to improve. When I was a child, it was like a dream to meet players like Alisson, Virgil [van Dijk] and Mo [Salah]. Now I'm with them and I'm so happy.
"There are a lot of quality players. I knew it before but what I saw is crazy, it's really crazy."
Liverpool open a new front in their pursuit of silverware at 8pm BST on Tuesday, when they begin their journey in this season's Carabao Cup.
Saints, now of the Championship and managed by Will Still, stand in the way of Slot's men and a place in Wednesday evening's fourth-round draw.
"I think every competition is important. It's one more opportunity to make our fans proud," stated Mamardashvili.
Whenever he takes to the pitch, the gloveman will honour his father with the shirt number he decided to take at Liverpool – the same one he also wears for his national team.
The last player to wear No.25 for the Reds was also a 'keeper in Pepe Reina, who made 394 appearances from 2005 until 2013.
Explaining his selection, Mamardashvili said: "My father was a goalkeeper as well, so he played with 25. I continue this legacy, I guess.
"I met Pepe at Villarreal when I played against him. He's a very good guy, very good person and a very good goalkeeper as well."