Liverpool gave up another early goal, falling behind Brentford inside the opening 10 minutes.
The Reds went into the game looking to avoid a fourth straight Premier League defeat, but supporters’ nerves were not settled by how things started.
There had been a bit more optimism after their midweek win over Eintracht Frankfurt, but that did not last long once Brentford struck early on.
A key pre-match discussion point centred on Brentford’s starting line-up, which notably featured three ex-Liverpool players, among them goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
Kelleher left Anfield in search of regular football and has settled in well at Brentford. With Alisson still sidelined, some Reds fans are now wondering whether he should have stayed, especially given their frustrations with Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Supporters think Caoimhin Kelleher would have been better off staying at Anfield
The Irishman had built a strong reputation as one of the top backup keepers in the league before deciding to move on, a move that felt justified given his abilities.
In response, Liverpool brought in Mamardashvili in a £25m deal, plus £4m in add-ons. He arrived with a solid reputation of his own, but has yet to find his footing at Anfield. Now, many supporters seem to think that this change was a mistake.
The Georgian has conceded in all four matches he has started so far. While not entirely to blame, he did not exactly inspire confidence against Brentford, especially with the ball at his feet. That has left some fans already wishing Kelleher had stayed put.
One fan wondered: “Is this keeper even better than Kelleher?” while another was more blunt: “We sold Kelleher for a clown?”
Another supporter joked: “Can Kelleher play for us in the 2nd half?”
Someone else added: “Walk down the other side of the pitch please and whack on the old shirt,” while another wrote: “I’m more comfortable with Kelleher than this guy.”
A sixth commented: “Kelleher is just better, isn’t he?” and another followed up with: “God I wish we kept Kelleher.”
Mamardashvili’s early struggles are not all on him
Most of the goals Mamardashvili has let in so far have been difficult to put squarely on his shoulders, often finding himself exposed by issues in front of him.
He is not quite at Alisson’s level when it comes to playing out from the back, but that kind of ability does not develop overnight and will likely improve over time.
Despite the rough start, he has shown glimpses of his shot-stopping ability. His save against Mikkel Damsgaard in the first half was a reminder that he has got quality between the posts.
It has not been the easiest introduction to Liverpool for Mamardashvili. He will have wanted to make more of an impression while filling in for Alisson, but the lack of support from those ahead of him has not made things any easier.
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