Giorgi Mamardashvili set for long-awaited Liverpool debut at Anfield against Southampton

The 24-year-old goalkeeper joined from Valencia in the summer for a fee of 29 million pounds, and has had to remain patient while Alisson Becker continued as first choice. Manager Arne Slot is preparing to rotate his squad for the third-round tie, with Mamardashvili now likely to get his first official appearance.

The Georgian international has been adapting to life on Merseyside since arriving from La Liga, and featured throughout pre-season as he adjusted to his new surroundings at the AXA Training Centre. Speaking ahead of the match, he said he was grateful for the support he had received.

"Really good people. Ali (Becker) helped me a lot to improve. When I was a child, it was like a dream to meet players like Alisson, Virgil (van Dijk) and Mo (Salah). Now I'm with them and I'm so happy," Mamardashvili said.

"There are a lot of quality players. I knew it before but what I saw is crazy, it's really crazy. I have had to be patient. I worked hard and I'm so excited to make my debut, my first official game. It doesn't matter if I play or not, I have to be ready. I work hard every day."

Slot has already underlined that he wants Liverpool to compete strongly in every competition, not just the Premier League, which they won in his first season. "I think every competition is important. It's one more opportunity to make our fans proud," Mamardashvili added.

Another summer signing, defender Giovanni Leoni, could also be handed his debut following his 25 million pound move from Torino.

Mamardashvili will wear the No.25 shirt at Anfield, a number that carries special meaning for him and for Liverpool fans. Former Reds goalkeeper Pepe Reina wore it in almost 400 matches between 2005 and 2013, while Mamardashvili has explained that the choice also connects to his family.

"My father was a goalkeeper as well, so he played with 25. I continue this legacy, I guess," he said. "I met Pepe at Villarreal when I played against him. He's a very good guy, very good person and a very good goalkeeper as well."

For Slot, tonight's tie is an opportunity to build depth and trust across his squad. For Mamardashvili, it is the chance to turn months of patience into performance and begin writing his own Liverpool story in front of the Kop.

READ MORE: Zuko Mdunyelwa urges youth to dream after Bafana Bafana debut