Mamardashvili Set for Spurs Test as Iraola Delivers Liverpool Injury Boost on Gomez

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has confirmed that Giorgi Mamardashvili will start against Tottenham Hotspur in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup meeting, while Joe Gomez is available for selection after returning to team training.

The Liverpool boss also provided a less encouraging update on Conor Bradley, who remains unavailable despite making progress in his rehabilitation.

Mamardashvili gets his chance

With Liverpool preparing for another quick turnaround following Saturday’s goalless draw with Fulham, Iraola is expected to rotate his squad at Anfield.

Mamardashvili will take over from Alisson for the Tottenham tie, giving the Georgia international another opportunity to impress in competitive action.

Iraola has particular reason to trust the goalkeeper. The Bournemouth manager previously tried to sign Mamardashvili before the goalkeeper eventually moved to Liverpool, making Tuesday’s meeting an interesting reunion.

The decision also reflects Liverpool’s need to manage workloads carefully during a demanding period of the season.

Gomez makes his return

The biggest positive development for Liverpool is the return of Joe Gomez.

The defender has not featured competitively this season after suffering a muscle problem during pre-season, but he has now resumed training with the first-team group and is available for selection against Tottenham.

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Iraola has stopped short of guaranteeing Gomez a start, meaning his involvement could depend on how the coaching staff assess his fitness and match readiness.

Even so, having the experienced defender back gives Liverpool another option at a time when the defensive department has been tested by injuries.

Gomez's return could also be particularly valuable with Liverpool facing another Premier League fixture against Bournemouth at the weekend.

Bradley still has to wait

While Gomez is back, Conor Bradley remains sidelined.

Bradley has started working with the ball as he continues his recovery, but he is still training individually and is not yet ready to return to full team action.

That means Liverpool will continue to manage the Northern Ireland international carefully rather than rushing him back.

The situation is especially important because Bradley offers Liverpool a natural option at right-back, a position where squad depth becomes increasingly important during periods of congested fixtures.

There is currently no confirmed return date for him.

Iraola faces a balancing act

The Tottenham match comes at a challenging point in Liverpool's schedule.

The Reds played Atletico Madrid in the Champions League before drawing 0-0 with Fulham at Anfield, and they now have another match before travelling to Bournemouth in the Premier League.

Iraola has therefore stressed the importance of assessing players individually rather than assuming every member of the squad can cope equally well with playing every few days.

That approach could lead to a heavily rotated Liverpool side against Tottenham, particularly with the Premier League and Champions League campaigns taking priority over the longer term.

For Mamardashvili, however, the rotation presents an opportunity.

Tottenham provide a serious test

Tottenham arrive at Anfield after a frustrating 0-0 draw with Everton in the Premier League.

Like Liverpool, Spurs are also expected to make changes for the cup fixture, meaning Tuesday's match could provide opportunities for players who have not been regular starters.

Liverpool's last league outing was far from convincing, with Fulham holding them to a draw and exposing some of the fatigue within Iraola's side.

The cup tie therefore offers the manager an opportunity to refresh the team while keeping his fringe players involved.

For Mamardashvili and Gomez, it could be an important night.

For Bradley, the message is more patient: the defender is progressing, but Liverpool are not prepared to accelerate his recovery before he is ready.

What the latest updates mean for Liverpool

The picture ahead of Tottenham is therefore mixed but encouraging.

Mamardashvili: Set to start against Spurs.

Joe Gomez: Back in team training and available for selection.

Conor Bradley: Still training individually and remains unavailable.

With a demanding run of fixtures ahead, Iraola's management of those players could prove just as important as his team selection on Tuesday night.

For Liverpool, the immediate boost is clear: Gomez is back, Mamardashvili gets his opportunity, but Bradley's return remains further away.

Fan Debate

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