{"id":1196724,"date":"2021-03-26T13:37:43","date_gmt":"2021-03-26T13:37:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1196724"},"modified":"2021-03-26T14:05:16","modified_gmt":"2021-03-26T14:05:16","slug":"best-premier-league-goalkeepers-so-far-this-season","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/best-premier-league-goalkeepers-so-far-this-season\/","title":{"rendered":"The best Premier League goalkeepers so far this season"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2020\/21 Premier League season is heading into its final sprint, so now feels like a good time to go back and take a look at some of the best goalkeepers the current campaign has had to offer.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The position of goalkeeper has changed rapidly over recent years and while they’re still the last bulwark between opposition strikers and their own net, those between the posts are now relied upon more than ever to be the first point of attack, too.<\/p>\n

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READ MORE:<\/span> Most Premier League clean sheets & saves in 2020\/21<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

Of course, not every team has embraced this approach, so to compare goalkeepers working within different contexts (team’s playing style and possession, quality of defensive teammates, coaching instructions etc.) makes little sense.<\/p>\n

Instead, what follows is an overview of which goalkeepers have excelled in different skills: shot-stopping (who has saved the highest percentage of shots while considering the quality of those attempts), busiest (who has made the most saves outright), sweeper ‘keepers (those coming out to claim the ball behind a high defensive line) and ball-players (those playing and completing high numbers of passes, and that are comfortable in possession).<\/p>\n

We listed the top three in each category from the 2020\/21 Premier League season so far, also limiting to goalkeepers with 1,500 or more minutes, to help give you a better idea of who have been the best No.1s in England.<\/p>\n

So, shall we get started?<\/p>\n

Shot stoppers<\/strong><\/h2>\n

3. Illan Meslier<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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  • Age:\u00a0<\/strong>21<\/li>\n
  • Team:\u00a0<\/strong>Leeds United<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    No Premier League goalkeeper has made more saves than Illan Meslier (115) this season and considering only Sam Johnstone (407) has faced more than his 406 shots, it’s a credit to him that he’s managed to maintain a 71.07% save rate, especially considering a league-high 72 of those shots have come from inside the box. Now, Meslier has made five errors leading to shots but at 21, he’s still very much learning his trade. And nevertheless, the Frenchman has played a key role in Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United seamlessly transitioning into life in the top-flight.<\/p>\n

    2. Nick Pope<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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    • Age:\u00a0<\/strong>28<\/li>\n
    • Club:\u00a0<\/strong>Burnley<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Burnley are known much more for their substance rather than style, so it’s no surprise to see Nick Pope come up in the stop-stoppers category, rather than the ‘sweeper ‘keepers’. Given Jordan Pickford’s erratic form, there’s an argument to be made that Pope will be England’s No.1 at this summer’s Euros, and with a save percentage of 75.94% — the second-highest among ‘keepers with more than 500 minutes — and 398 saves made this season, who would question that?<\/p>\n

      1. Emiliano Martinez<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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      • Age:\u00a0<\/strong>28<\/li>\n
      • Club:\u00a0<\/strong>Aston Villa<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Emiliano Martinez was always desperately unlucky not to get more chances at Arsenal but after a solid end to the 2019\/20 season, he moved to Aston Villa and has flourished between the sticks this campaign. The former Argentina youth international has faced the sixth-highest number of shots in the Premier League this season (372) yet has an extremely impressive save percentage of 76.56%, the highest of any goalkeeper to play more than 500 minutes. Outperforming his Expected Goals on Target Conceded of (XGTC) 35.55 by 5.55, allowing just 30 goals, Martinez has kept a massive 14 clean sheets this season; only Ederson has more (16). He’s certainly pulled Aston Villa out of a few holes this year, allowing Dean Smith’s men to compete in the top half of the Premier League.<\/p>\n

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