What characteristics do the best goalkeepers in Europe have? The role of the goalkeeper is no longer what it once was, with the number 1 required to initiate attacks as well as provide the last line of defense in the modern game. It’s often said that a reliable man between the posts will get you a few points every season, and the following players are good examples of just that. We’ve ranked goalkeepers based on their overall performance as well as other factors, paying attention to stats while balancing how good they can be in the biggest moments.
5. Ederson (Manchester City) Ederson Source: telegraph.co.uk It could be argued that Ederson is possibly the most influential goalkeeper in the Premier League since Petr Cech. Goalkeepers who play with the ball were looked at with derision, but over time, the enormous importance of this way of playing was understood. There will always be those who will never overestimate the Brazilian – and in some ways that’s understandable. Good at stopping shots, Manchester City’s number 1 is primarily there for his work on the ball. Ederson never seemed like the weak link, excelling whenever he was called upon to play for City, while also winning the last three Premier League Golden Gloves.
4. Nick Pope (Newcastle United) Nick Pope Source: premierleague.com He is not England’s first goalkeeper either, but still Nick Pop is one of the best goalkeepers in Europe this season. With just 15 goals conceded before receiving an uncharacteristic red card against Liverpool, Pop was one of the best signings of the season. Sure, he has great defense in front of him, but Pop has been outstanding himself. Although he has been criticized in the past for his poor handling of the ball, he has not paralyzed Newcastle’s build-up play, while the fact that he has the second most defensive actions outside the penalty area in Europe clearly shows how good he is at penetrating (apart from that one time against Liverpool). Great at stopping shots and perhaps never getting the attention he deserves, it’s good to see him fighting for Europe instead of Premier League survival this season.
3. Marc-Andre Ter Stegen (Barcelona) Barcelona is almost flawless this season in the domestic championship. Xavi has put together a team that is once again playing in a way that is characteristic of Barcelona – and that includes their defensive stability. Marc-Andre Ter Stegen may not have much interest in the sport that made him a superstar, but he conceded just eight goals in the league all season. It’s simply stunning – and even though Barca’s set-up expects possession and limiting chances, Marc ranks seventh in Europe in expected goals from kicks minus goals conceded, meaning he’s saved five more goals than he should have.
2. Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid) Courtois still holds the top spot in Europe for expected goals after a kick for the number of shots on goal, which points to his world-renowned shot-stopping ability – and in fact, his passing and ability to get down to shots have improved over the years. He is also a leader, both for the club and the national team, which was illustrated by his performance in the Champions League final last year. It was one of the best performances any goalkeeper can remember on the continental stage. It shows how special the Belgian is, given that it has led him to become Real Madrid’s second most important player after Karim Benzema and deserves respect in many ways.
1. Alisson (Liverpool) Source: leadership.ng Alisson is seen as a goalkeeper who will help Liverpool play from the back, with an excellent range of passes – and the Reds’ forwards can attest to that, judging by the number of goals their goalkeeper has sparked. However, if goalkeeping skills are roughly divided into possession and shot-stopping, Liverpool have the best goalkeeper in the world in both aspects. Superb in one-on-one situations and with his team struggling in the middle of the table, Alisson has been the traditional savior of defensive actions this season, saving nine more goals than he should have statistically. It is very rare that these two parameters coincide. It is hard to imagine where they would be in the table without a player like Alisson, who has consistently provided top performances throughout this season.