The Premier League is currently host to the two most expensive goalkeepers in the world.
Playing in goal was for so long a thankless task, both in terms of pressure heaped on you but also relative treatment from fans and even owners.
Goalies never commanded the biggest fees, despite their importance to a team. But that situation is finally changing with two colossal moves this summer; Liverpool signing Alisson for £65m and then Chelsea snatching up Kepa Arrizabala for £71.6m.
But just how good are these new arrivals? Where do they fall within the Premier League’s already fine bounty of goalkeepers? We had a look and came up with a list of the top 10 goalkeepers in England’s top flight!
10. Nick Pope
Burnley, 26 years-old
As a former third-placed goalkeeper who has taken advantage of injuries to the more highly-rated players ahead of him to rocket his way into the first-team, the national side and the collective consciousness as a brilliant stopper whose excellence cannot be questioned; Nick Pope is England’s answer to David De Gea.
9. Lukasz Fabianski
West Ham, 33 years-old
Swansea got relegated in 2017/18 but their abysmal record should have been much worse. It sounds weird but Swansea were actually even worse than the horrorshow they ended up being, and the only thing that kept them just bad rather than hideous was Lukasz Fabianski’s excellent displays in goal. The former Arsenal man was picked up by West Ham in one of the smartest deals of the summer.
8. Jordan Pickford
Everton, 24 years-old
For all of last season, people questioned Everton spending £30 million on Jordan Pickford. An excellent World Cup made everyone realise that this lad is the real deal, and exposed that hesitations were probably more about worries that Everton had ‘Everton’d’ again. Pickford is supreme, a colossal personality and athletic presence in goal.
7. Kepa Arrizabalaga
Chelsea, 23 years-old
The three most expensive Spanish players ever have been signed by Chelsea:
Kepa Arrizabalaga (£72m)
Álvaro Morata (£60m)
Fernando Torres (£50m)Los Azules break a world record in the process. pic.twitter.com/OwG9slU5rB
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) August 8, 2018
The most expensive goalkeeper in the world is not the finished article yet. At 23 he still has a lot to learn, but what he does have is an incredible skill-set and nerves of steel, both of which should stand him in great stead when it comes to handling the pressures of being a Maurizio Sarri goalkeeper.
6. Rui Patricio
Wolves, 30 years-old
Rui Patricio is genuinely one of the world’s finest goalkeepers. Him turning up at Wolves is a testament to the power of Jorge Mendes. Provided he can settle into England quickly and figure out which language to use to communicate with his multinational defence, he will win Wolves games off his own skill and leadership. It’s as simple as that.
5. Hugo Lloris
Spurs, 31 years-old
Lloris is coming off his worst season in a while, but conversely also coming off his best-ever summer tournament. Hugo Lloris captained France to World Cup glory in Russia and he will hope to bring that calmness under pressure and trophy-winning experience to Spurs. Can he help the Lillywhites finally win something?
4. Kasper Schmeichel
Leicester, 31 years-old
“The son becomes the father, and the father? Well, the son.” Jor-El talking about Superman, or Peter Schmeichel talking about son Kasper? The younger Schmeichel, in addition to winning a Premier League title with Leicester of all teams, has now shone in a World Cup. The Dane helped his country make it to the round of 16 and did a huge amount to help them nearly get further.
3. Ederson
Manchester City, 23 years-old
Brazil’s back-up who could easily be the starter, Ederson was amazing for Manchester City last year as they romped to an incredible 100 point Premier League title. This Brazilian can do it all; from miracle saves on his line to claiming crosses in mid-air to carrying the ball forward and picking out team-mates with pinpoint passes. Ederson is a key part of his side’s defence and their attack, and there are not many goalkeepers who can say that!
2. Alisson
Liverpool, 25 years-old
What a beard! Alisson enters the Premier League a hirsute sensation already, although he was only the world’s most expensive goalkeeper for a month. Just like his compatriot, he can do everything asked of a modern goalkeeper. Whilst he may not be quite as good as Ederson with the ball at his feet, Alisson’s more traditional goalkeeping attributes are perhaps stronger.
With the hype around him reaching fever pitch, the Brazilian will have a job on to match expectations, but he is playing behind the strongest Liverpool defence for a decade; so he’s got a chance!
#SquawkaScout: Alisson
• 37 games
• 107 saves
• 80.% save success rate
• 17 clean sheets"The Messi of goalkeepers" pic.twitter.com/FqnwlQPFub
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) July 18, 2018
1. David De Gea
Manchester United, 27 years-old
It seemed fitting that 2017/18 saw Manuel Neuer miss the whole season with injury as David De Gea played with even more genius than usual. The Spaniard is now the undisputed best goalkeeper in the world (only his absurd haircut held him back at the World Cup – and he’s got rid of that now) and will look to bring that level of brilliance back to United as the Red Devils make yet another tilt at a title they haven’t won for five seasons.
David de Gea has now been named Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year more times than any other player in Manchester United's history.
2014
2015
2016
2018Legendary status attained. pic.twitter.com/pW1ehSDKp3
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 1, 2018
And they know that there’s no way they can do that without a goalkeeper who is so good he’s been their player of the year four out of the last five years. David De Gea, miracle worker.
The post Ranked: The top 10 Premier League goalkeepers in 2018/19 appeared first on Squawka News.
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