Liverpool player blamed for both Man Utd goals in savage attack - 'he could have reacted'

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Giorgi Mamardashvili has been harshly criticised for being at fault for both goals during Liverpool 's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United . The Reds suffered their fourth consecutive loss against their fierce rivals at Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday.

This result marks the club's worst run of results since 2014, with £29m summer signing Mamardashvili making his home league debut in goal, replacing the injured Alisson Becker . Liverpool had a disastrous start to the match as Bryan Mbeumo put the away side ahead, squeezing the ball past Mamardashvili.

There is certainly an argument to be made that the 25-year-old goalkeeper was beaten too easily at his near post for United's opener. He also fumbled a cross from Matheus Cunha which nearly resulted in a goal for Mason Mount .

However, there was little the Georgian could have done about Harry Maguire 's late winner as the defender headed a volleyed cross from Bruno Fernandes home from just six yards out. Despite this, former United keeper Ben Foster has surprisingly suggested that Alisson would've come out to claim the cross if he had been in goal.

"For the first one, I was really disappointed," the ex- England and Wrexham stopper said on his Fozcast podcast. "He got dragged into that space and he's into no man's land, because you've not got much space to operate in. He can't go and affect the ball because you can tell Mbeumo's just getting it onto that right foot and he's shooting.

"What he's done, though, is he's closed that space and closed his reaction time off, so he's basically just got to hope it hits him. Whereas if he had just stayed where he was, he could have reacted to that. When you're not playing, you start to do things like that.

"I think the difference is that Allison is so set in his position. He knows where he is. He's so comfortable with his surroundings when that ball comes in [for the second goal]. When he sees that, he's thinking, 'Can I come for the cross?' A goalie at the top of his game at this moment in time just comes and punches that away."

There is currently no definite timescale set for the return of Alisson from the hamstring injury he sustained against Galatasaray last month. Mamardashvili made his Premier League bow in Liverpool's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea , where he was left with little chance for either goal conceded by the Reds.

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Despite Foster's criticism of his performance against United, Mamardashvili received a vote of confidence from Liverpool boss Arne Slot earlier this month.

The Dutchman said: "We knew we were bringing in a very good goalkeeper, but when he plays his first game, that's always the best way of seeing that he's adjusted well or not. He's adjusted really well to our club, which is not a surprise because he's a quality goalkeeper."

Mamardashvili is set to continue as Liverpool's first-choice keeper in Alisson's absence, with a demanding schedule of seven matches in 22 days ahead for the Reds. That includes Champions League fixtures at Eintracht Frankfurt and a home game against Real Madrid , plus a challenging Premier League match at Manchester City .

Last month, Mamardashvili said: "I have had to be patient. It doesn't matter if I play or not, I have to be ready. I work hard every day."

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