AnalysisSuper saves, leadership and inspiration: What Giorgi Mamardashvili brings to Liverpool

Mamardashvili completed his transfer to the Reds from Valencia earlier this month and is the first Georgian to represent the club.

Only five players from Georgia have ever made an appearance in the Premier League, and Sagnol hopes the 24-year-old's presence in England can inspire his compatriots to aim for the highest levels.

He told Liverpoolfc.com: "It was very big and positive news for Georgian football [and] for its development. It needs players to play in top leagues and top clubs.

"And, of course, when a No.1 goalkeeper signs for Liverpool, it's quite amazing news and very positive news – not only for Giorgi but for the whole of Georgian football.

"I hope it won't be just an example but it will be a goal for a lot of Georgian football players: to work hard to reach the same achievement."

Sagnol, a Champions League winner with Bayern Munich as a player, was the boss who handed Mamardashvili his international debut back in September 2021.

The 'keeper has since become a key figure for his nation, highlighted with terrific displays during their run to the last 16 in last summer's European Championship.

Mamardashvili pulled off a tournament-leading 29 saves in his four appearances there – 21 of them in the group stage, the joint-most in Euros history.

"I think Giorgi has had, I don't want to say an unexpected evolution, but he had a very, very quick evolution in Valencia," Sagnol continued.

"To become [a] goalkeeper of Liverpool is, of course, a big, big step forward for him. But I'm sure he's stable enough in his head, I'm sure he's going to cope with a different kind of pressure.

"It's always difficult to know how they will react to the people. But from what I have seen up until now, I don't think I have any doubt about it.

"When you start your career in Georgia and you can adapt so quickly to Spanish football, I have no doubt that he's going to adapt very well to English football as well."

Mamardashvili links up with Arne Slot's league champions after four seasons of development in Spain and is eager to take the next step in his career, as he explained in his first interview as a Liverpool player.

Sagnol offered a detailed breakdown about what the Reds can expect from their new stopper.

The Frenchman said: "He has improved so much in the last three years – not only as a football player but also as a man.

"He became not only a very important player on the pitch but also in the squad. He's clearly one of our leaders now.

"I will say this leadership that he's showing with us, I'm sure he's going to be able to reproduce that in Liverpool.

"He's clearly a goalkeeper that will save you a lot of points during a season. On his line he's tall but he's also very quick.

"When it's about saving in his box, in my opinion he's one of the best in the world at the moment.

"He also knows how to bring confidence to the others because he's somebody who's quite calm. He has a very positive quietness."