Iraola tweaks line‑up as Liverpool face Tottenham in Carabao Cup

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has confirmed that backup goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili will start against Tottenham in Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup tie, opting to rest proven No 1 Alisson Becker as the Reds seek to rebound from a goalless home draw with Fulham.

Mixed start to the season

Under Iraola, Liverpool have had a mixed start to the 2026/27 campaign, with the new head coach still finding a way to get the best out of his side after a summer of change. The Reds are unbeaten this season but have drawn three of their first four Premier League games. They were held to a disappointing 0‑0 home draw against Fulham at the weekend.

Iraola said the squad will be tweaked for the Carabao Cup tie as Liverpool host Tottenham on Tuesday night, hoping to return to winning ways after the Fulham stalemate.

He explained that Alisson Becker remains “proven” and “playing very well”, yet he rates backup keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili highly from his years in Spain and will start him tomorrow. “We tried to sign him for Bournemouth before I came here,” Iraola added, describing the Georgian as a very good keeper.

Joe Gomez is training with the team and is available for tomorrow, Iraola said, noting that the coaching staff must decide how much he can play.

Conor Bradley, meanwhile, is not close to training with the squad; he is training alone but has started touching the ball, and Iraola wants him back as soon as possible. Leoni is a little ahead of Bradley, and the coach expects his return to take some time.

Squad rotation and fitness concerns

Iraola admitted the club are in the “worst scenario” regarding fixture congestion, with the third game arriving after only two to three days of rest. After the international break the Reds face four games in ten days, a schedule that demands learning which players can cope with such frequency. He recalled that the team had a longer gap between the Ipswich and Atletico fixtures and between Atletico and Fulham, noting five days compared with the current two‑to‑three‑day intervals.

He warned that repeatedly using the same players risks fatigue and injury, although some can handle every three days without a dip in performance. The coach is still identifying who needs rest to maintain level, acknowledging that for many it is a new challenge as they have not played as many games.