Mamardashvili becomes Liverpool hero despite flawed penalty notes

Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili emerged as the hero in the Reds' Carabao Cup penalty shootout victory over Chelsea, even though the pre-match analytical notes on the opposition's penalty takers proved completely wrong. The Georgian international denied Emmanuel Emegha at a crucial juncture in the shootout, later revealing with a smile that the briefing from the coaching staff had not been particularly useful. "I had the cheat sheet too, but everything on it was wrong!" Mamardashvili admitted after the match.

The shot-stopper explained that he ultimately had to rely on his own instincts to stop Emegha's effort. "Before he took it, I was just watching where he was looking to place the ball. In the end, I decided to dive to my right and made the save," he said. "I just wanted to enjoy the match, and I did. I would have liked to save more penalties, but sometimes one is all it takes."

Team-mate Joe Gomez was quick to praise the Georgian, who seized his opportunity in the absence of the first-choice goalkeeper. "Giorgi is a top goalkeeper. There are players at the club who don't get regular game time, so full credit to him for stepping up like that," the defender said.