Harry Diamond
Premier League fans will eagerly be anticipating the return of English football’s top flight following the final international break of the calendar year, and ahead of next weekend’s fixtures we’ve decided to look at some of the best stats of the campaign so far.
Goalkeepers may not always get the plaudits that are bestowed upon their attacking colleagues, but the often un-sung heroes remain fundamental to the success of their respective sides.
Here are the five goalkeepers with the most saves in the Premier League this season…
Tim Krul – Norwich – 40 saves
It’s been a busy season for the Norwich City goalkeeper, as last season’s Championship winners have struggled since their early season promise.
Daniel Farke’s side are now winless in their past seven Premier League fixtures, the Canaries having slumped to the foot of the division following a woeful run of form.
Dutch goalkeeper Krul has done all he can to prevent Norwich slipping further, however, making 40 saves so far including a ‘Save of the Season’ contender and two penalty stops in the defeat to Manchester United at Carrow Road.
Krul is likely to be busy as the season continues, unless Norwich can fix their leaky defence.
A stunning save from Tim Krul, but look at that defending 😳😳 pic.twitter.com/kanKz3aZcv
— Jack Reeve (@JackReeveTNC) October 27, 2019
Ben Foster – Watford – 41 saves
Another goalkeeper who has been busy with his side struggling so far this season, Watford’s Ben Foster has made 41 saves over the opening weeks of the season so far.
Watford went winless in their opening 11 league fixtures before victory at Norwich last time out, with veteran Foster having done all he can for his under-performing side.
The 35-year-old has produced impressive performances in recent weeks against Chelsea and Norwich, the goalkeeper being one of the Hornets’ better performers despite their poor start.
Watford will need Foster to continue making smart saves, however, as they bid to avoid the drop.
THIS SAVE ⛔️
Ben Foster is on one 💪 pic.twitter.com/1OFvzaup3T
— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 2, 2019
Mat Ryan – Brighton – 43 saves
Brighton have made a solid start to the season under new manager Graham Potter, with the Seagulls currently sitting in mid-table.
Key to their success has been the form of Australian international Ryan, who has been the equal-second busiest goalkeeper in the Premier League this season.
The 27-year-old has played every minute of the club’s season so far and has made 43 saves, including a huge nine in the defeat to Manchester United prior to the international break.
His four clean sheets also put him just one behind leaders Dean Henderson, Kasper Schmeichel and Ederson in the race for the Premier League’s Golden Glove.
Aaron Ramsdale – Bournemouth – 43 saves
The youngster has established himself as Bournemouth’s number one so far this season and has been kept busy for Eddie Howe’s side, making 43 saves in his 12 appearances so far.
At just 21-years-old he is the youngest of the regular first-team goalkeepers in the division, with the goalkeeper certainly learning on the job so far.
Ramsdale spent last season on loan at League One Wimbledon but has returned ready for top-flight football, helping to shore up the Cherries’ defence by keeping three clean sheets in his past four league appearances.
Bernd Leno – Arsenal – 49 saves
It doesn’t take a footballing expert to work out that the busier your goalkeeper is, the less likely you are to win football matches, so for Arsenal’s Bernd Leno to have made the most saves in the Premier League says a lot about the leaky rearguard of Unai Emery’s side.
Defensive fragility has long been a concern for the North London side and it has seen the club slip eight points adrift of the division’s top four, with the prospect of a fourth season without Champions League football now a likely proposition.
To his credit, Leno has done all he can to keep the opposition at bay, making more saves than any other ‘keeper in the division so far. The German will want to be kept less busy over the coming months, however, or it will prove to be yet another disappointing season at the Emirates.
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