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#3 Hugo Lloris - Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur have struggled to find their footing in the Premier League this season. Their talisman, Harry Kane, has been firing blanks, the midfield is in shambles, and the defenders have also been way below their best.
Amid the doom and gloom, there’s been one player who has done his best to keep the Lilywhites in the contest. The team’s unabashed skipper, Hugo Lloris has been Spurs’ knight in shining armor this season.
The France international has not only made a whopping 56 saves, but he has also rushed out of his line more often than any other keeper. The 35-year-old has performed 17 sweeping actions in the English top-flight, saving Tottenham after their defense was breached.
The north Londoners have looked a bit more solid under Antonio Conte, but Lloris has not yet had a chance to rest on his laurels.
#2 Alisson Becker - Liverpool
The heart of an outfield player in the body of a dependable goalkeeper - Liverpool’s Alisson Becker is one of the Premier League's most adventurous stoppers.
Jurgen Klopp has worked a lot on Alisson’s footwork over the years, helping him intercept passes with conviction when needed.
His game-reading has been on point this season, with the player non-hesitantly rushing out of his box to clear threatening balls.
Liverpool’s solid defensive organization has kept Alisson well-shielded, with the Brazil international only making 41 saves in the Premier League.
In comparison, his sweeping ability has been well in demand. The 29-year-old has 15 clearances to his name this season, averaging 0.75 sweeping actions per match.
#1 Manuel Neuer - Bayern Munich
The term “sweeper keeper” has been in circulation for a while now. However, there’s hardly been a more staunch advocator of “sweeping” than Bayern Munich’s captain extraordinaire Manuel Neuer.
The veteran goalkeeper has been delivering top-drawer performances for well over a decade. Not only is he known to make acrobatic saves at will, but he also possesses excellent footwork and unmatched bravado.
Unlike most goalkeepers out there, Neuer loves to dribble with the ball at his feet. The German international rushes out of his line whenever possible and intervenes with rock-solid conviction.
Most importantly, he prioritizes recirculating the ball instead of just kicking it out of play. The 35-year-old always looks for passing lanes and tries to instigate a counter-attack if possible.
Neuer, who is set to feature in his last World Cup this year, has been a rock at the back for Germany and Bayern. Whoever decides to pick up the baton will have scary big shoes to fill in the coming years.
