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Premier League fans may consider themselves blessed. The current crop of goalkeepers in England's top tier is certainly among the best in the world.
The concept of a 'Top 4' is no longer pertinent in the English Premier League. Often referred to as the 'Top 6', England's elite make up some of the best players in the whole of Europe.
The Premier League season so far has been nothing short of sensational. While there have been some expected results, there have been some unprecedented events as well, on account of a few excellent individual performances.
Let's take a look at the top five goalkeepers in the Premier League season so far.
#5. Aaron Ramsdale - Arsenal
Aaron Ramsdale was signed from Sheffield during the summer transfer window for a reported £24 million.
Initially deemed 'mediocre' and 'overpriced', Ramsdale has had a magnificent start to the season. With every performance, the Englishman seems to silence more critics as he takes his place in goal.
The 23-year-old has represented Sheffield United and Bournemouth in the Premier League and was touted by many as the deputy to Bernd Leno.
However, Ramsdale seems to be Mikel Arteta's number one, having started six Premier League games already.
The Englishman has all the makings of a cult hero among Arsenal fans. His vocal nature is adored by many and his defensive partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben White has looked formidable so far. His distribution ability is another handy skill, considering Arteta likes to play out from the back.
Ramsdale already has three clean sheets in his six Premier League appearances and looks more and more like the goalkeeper Arsenal need in order to challenge for top prizes once again.
#4. Robert Sanchez - Brighton & Hove Albion
Robert Sanchez has been in fine form for Brighton ever since the start of the season.
The Spaniard came up through Brighton's youth system and went on two loan spells at Forest Green Rovers and Rochdale. He made his Brighton debut in November 2020 and hasn't looked back since.
Standing at a remarkable 197 cms tall, Sanchez always asserts his dominance in the box. He has been a key figure for the Seagulls ever since his debut, often producing clutch saves to keep his side in the game.
Sanchez benefits from Brighton's system, with Graham Potter generally preferring to play three at the back. His contributions have been key in deciding Brighton's fortunes this season: the Seagulls are sitting pretty in fifth in the table.
Sanchez has only conceded nine Premier League goals so far this season, of which four came recently against defending champions Manchester City. He will be crucial in determining the club's fortunes this season.
#3. Alisson Becker - Liverpool
Alisson joined Liverpool from Roma in July 2018 for a reported £66.8 million.
In the three years since, the Brazilian has become a dominant force in England's top tier. Considered by many as the best goalkeeper in the world, Alisson has been integral to Liverpool's success over the past three years.
The Brazilian is often described as the complete goalkeeper. While he isn't the tallest goalie around, he can be seen taking control of situations in the box very often.
His distribution is exceptional and he has become one of the first names on the sheet, along with defensive partners Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Since joining Liverpool, Alisson has already won one Premier League title and one UEFA Champions League title. He also achieved success at the national level, winning the Copa America with Brazil in 2019.
Alisson has made eight Premier League starts this season, keeping five clean sheets in total. His experience and skill will be a key factor in enabling Liverpool to challenge defending champions Manchester City for the Premier League title.
#2. Ederson - Manchester City
Ederson joined Manchester City from Benfica in June 2017 for a reported £35 million.
The deal has since been described as a bargain, as Ederson has evolved into one of the best goalkeepers in the world. A crucial part of Pep Guardiola's setup, Ederson is almost certainly one of the first names on the sheet despite the manager's aggressive rotation policy.
Ederson is considered the quintessential goalkeeper who embodies the modern game. He is dominant in the air and is one of the world's best goalkeepers when it comes to distribution.
Blessed with a wand of a left foot, Ederson can often be seen pinging long balls to his attackers to start counter-attacks. He has even been described as a playmaking goalkeeper in the past, the first of his kind. Ederson even has two PL assists to his name, a feat that is unheard of for goalkeepers.
The Brazilian has started eight games this season for Manchester City, keeping five clean sheets and conceding just four goals. Ederson has created a formidable partnership with his defensive line over the past few years, even winning the Premier League Golden Glove twice.
Ederson will look to help the Cityzens win their fourth Premier League title in five years this season.
#1. Edouard Mendy - Chelsea
Edouard Mendy has taken Europe by storm and developed into one of the world's best goalkeepers.
The Senegalese shot-stopper joined Chelsea from Rennes for a reported £22 million and could well go on to become one of the most important players in the club's recent history.
Mendy has been sensational for Chelsea. He has broken several records ever since he joined, including Petr Cech's record for the highest number of clean sheets in a single UEFA Champions League season.
He was instrumental in the club's success last season as Chelsea went on to win the UEFA Champions League. Mendy also won the UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year award, cementing his place amongst Europe's elite.
Mendy has carried his exceptional form into this season as well. He has made eight starts for the Blues, keeping five clean sheets and conceding just three goals in total. Mendy, along with the likes of Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger, has formed one of the best defensive partnerships in world football.
He also has one of the best defensive records in world football currently. Mendy has made 56 appearances for Chelsea across all competitions, keeping a mammoth 32 clean sheets. His prowess will be much-needed as Chelsea look to win the Premier League title after five years.
