The Liverpool goalkeeper had to be stretchered off after starting against Everton in the Merseyside derby.

Giorgi Mamardashvili’s injury, initially feared to be serious, has turned out to be less severe than expected — though the shot-stopper will still be sidelined for a period as he recovers for Liverpool.

Concerns grew when Mamardashvili remained down following a heavy collision with Everton forward Beto, who caught the Georgian goalkeeper on his knee while completing the follow-through after scoring the equaliser on Sunday afternoon.

Liverpool eventually clinched a 2-1 victory in stoppage time through Virgil van Dijk’s late strike, but the sight of Mamardashvili leaving the pitch on a stretcher caused worry among the fans and staff alike.

Manager Arne Slot later confirmed that Mamardashvili had sustained a ‘deep wound’ during the incident but reassured supporters that the injury was not expected to keep him out for an extended period.

According to reports from The Athletic, however, the goalkeeper is likely to be out for “at least a fortnight,” posing a challenge for Liverpool as their first-choice keeper Alisson Becker is also sidelined with a hamstring problem.

Alisson’s recovery timeline is said to be similar to Mamardashvili’s, with Liverpool hopeful that the Brazilian could be fit to face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, May 3.

In the meantime, third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman is expected to start against his former club Crystal Palace in the Premier League fixture at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.

Woodman, who began his youth career at Crystal Palace before joining Newcastle United, has spent much of his professional career in the Championship, representing Swansea City and Preston North End.

The Englishman also made several Premier League appearances for Newcastle during the 2021/22 season before moving to Deepdale, and later joined Liverpool last summer alongside Mamardashvili to provide additional depth in goalkeeping options.

As Liverpool navigate a pivotal stretch of the season, maintaining their position within the Premier League’s top five remains crucial in their quest for Champions League qualification next year.

The Reds’ prospects have been aided by Chelsea’s ongoing struggles, which have widened the gap to five points between Liverpool in fifth place and Brighton in sixth.