Arne Slot has revealed that Giorgi Mamardashvili was taken to hospital following the injury that gave Freddie Woodman an unforeseen derby debut for Liverpool against Everton. Mamardashvili was stretchered off after receiving prolonged treatment for a leg injury sustained when he was involved in a tangle with Beto and Andy Robertson as the Toffees striker cancelled out Mohamed Salah's opener at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The goalkeeper, once more standing in for the hamstring-stricken Alisson Becker, was replaced by Woodman, who preserved a personal clean sheet as Liverpool clinched a dramatic victory in the 248th Merseyside derby courtesy of Virgil van Dijk's stoppage-time header. Should Alisson and Mamardashvili remain unavailable, Woodman is poised for a maiden Premier League start for Liverpool at home on Saturday against Crystal Palace, the opponents he faced on his Reds debut in the League Cup loss in October.

Slot said: "Giorgi had to go to hospital (with) a big wound so let's see how he will be. But Freddie deserves a lot of credit because if you have to come in after conceding the 1-1 and the fans were ready for it (an Everton goal) but he did his job really well.

"He kept his calm in a difficult moment when he was doubting whether to catch the ball, yes or no, but kept his nerves. He's worked so hard to have this moment and usually third goalkeepers don't play a lot but in a season like ours, I think if you are playing in the under-8s at Liverpool, you should be ready for making your debut because it is unbelievable what is happening to us."

Liverpool had already been without Hugo Ekitike and Joe Gomez from the side that took on Paris Saint-Germain last Tuesday, with Slot opting to name just eight substitutes at Everton, including Academy goalkeeper Armin Pecsi.

Slot continued: "Is there anything that surprises you when it comes to injuries this season? Maybe I already envisaged it because I had two goalkeepers on the bench today, which I normally don't have but, of course, it has everything to do with the availability of all the other positions. Freddie did a great job."