Giorgi Mamardashvili is set for his first league start for Liverpool against Chelsea on Saturday evening, writes Mason Savva from the AXA Training Centre.
The Georgian’s only other appearance was a 2-1 against Southampton in the Carabao Cup
Reds number one Alisson Becker is set for up to two months on the sideline, according to reports, after picking up another hamstring injury against Galatasaray in midweek.
Slot said: “I think we’ve seen in that game that he’s (Mamardashvili) adjusted really well to our club, which is not a surprise because he’s a quality goalkeeper.”
Hugo Ekitike also picked up a knock in midweek against Galatasaray. Slot revealed the Frenchman is set to train today (Friday), as was Federico Chiesa who didn’t travel to Istanbul.
Alexander Isak has scored three in five appearances against Chelsea for previous club Newcastle. However, Slot believes the Premier League’s most expensive signing still has to prove himself in a Liverpool shirt.
Said the Reds boss: “He needs to adjust to his teammates, and his teammates need to adjust to him, and the more you play together, the better things will work.”
Mohammed Salah has five goals in his last 20 competitive Liverpool appearances, scoring twice in the league this season with only one being from open play.
Said Slot: “I see the second part of last season where he scored one goal, five from a penalty and one from a set piece. So, he is part of a team that faces different opposition than the different half of last season.
“We don’t score as many open play goals anymore as we did in the firs half of last season and this is something we’re working on very hard.”
Two set piece goals saw Crystal Palace take all three points last week, and the Liverpool manager believes this is something his side have struggled with this season.
“The second part of last season we scored seven set piece goals, which led to a lot of wins and this season we’ve conceded four.
“We play Chelsea tomorrow, I think they’ve scored more than 50% of their goals from set pieces so this is the new reality in the Premier League.”
Chelsea are however without the injured Tosin Adarabioyo, and defensive partner Trevoh Chalobah who was sent off against Brighton last weekend.
Chalobah’s Chelsea’s second joint top scorer this season, with his two goals both coming from set plays.
The Reds travel to London also with the knowledge that they won’t be playing against Cole Palmer, who’s carrying a groin injury.
