freddie woodman was thrown into Liverpool’s Merseyside derby after Giorgi Mamardashvili was stretchered off at Hill Dickenson Stadium on Thursday evening ET, forcing Arne Slot to use his third-choice goalkeeper. Liverpool were already without first-choice keeper Alisson, and the injury left the visitors scrambling in the second half. The change came during a tense match that had already seen Mohamed Salah put Liverpool ahead before Everton equalized through Beto.
Freddie Woodman steps in as Liverpool are hit again
The switch happened after Beto’s goal in the second half, when the Everton striker challenged for a delivery into the area and collided with Mamardashvili. The Liverpool goalkeeper could not continue and was taken off on a stretcher, with freddie woodman then introduced to play the remaining half hour.
Woodman, 29, had been at Preston North End until 2025, where he played more than 100 games for the Championship club. His arrival turned the focus back onto Liverpool’s goalkeeping situation at a moment when the team needed calm most.
How the match changed in real time
Liverpool had taken the lead through Salah after a flowing move involving Cody Gakpo, with the Egyptian finishing past Jordan Pickford. Everton had already seen one first-half effort ruled out for offside after Iliman Ndiaye finished a move that began with Jake O’Brien’s cross.
After VAR confirmed the disallowed goal, Salah struck for Liverpool moments later. But the rhythm of the match shifted again in the second half when Beto found the net and Mamardashvili went down, creating the opening for freddie woodman to enter the game under pressure.
Reactions from the touchline and pitch
Arne Slot was forced to make the goalkeeper change immediately, with Liverpool’s bench already stretched by the absence of Alisson. The manager’s decision was not tactical in the usual sense; it was driven by the injury and the need to protect the team’s shape.
On the pitch, Beto initially celebrated his goal before later being forced off himself with 15 to 20 minutes remaining, adding another twist to a derby that remained open and unsettled. Both sides continued to create chances as the game moved into its closing phase.
What this means for Liverpool now
For Liverpool, the key issue is not only the scoreline but the uncertainty around the goalkeeping group after Mamardashvili’s withdrawal. With Alisson already unavailable, the sight of freddie woodman coming on under emergency circumstances underlined how quickly the matchday picture changed for Slot.
Freddie Woodman now stands at the center of a story Liverpool did not want to write, and the next updates on the goalkeeper’s condition will shape how the club approaches the rest of the evening ET and beyond.
