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A reliable man in front of goal sometimes can turn the fortunes of his team on his own and can make improve his club's chances of winning silverware to a great extent. Sometimes, his role can be as decisive as a striker's and his brilliant saves could be more important than the goal.
The most successful English club at the European stage, Liverpool, indeed has been graced with some of the best goalkeepers of their times. Those outstanding stoppers have taken a pivotal role in Reds' immense success in England and in Europe as well.
Liverpool's men between the sticks were not famous for just statistical merits but also overall influence by their presence on the pitch and off the pitch as well.
Along with Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush, John Aldridge, Steven Gerrard, list of Liverpool legends also include some immensely talented goalkeepers.
Let's have a look at the top four goalkeepers in Liverpool's history.
#4 David James
David James has been fantastic for Liverpool and England in his prime years. The Englishman boasts an outstanding record of 169 clean sheets in the Premier League.
England's former man in front of the goal spent 7 years at Anfield between 1992 and 1999 and enjoyed best of days of his footballing career at Red half of Merseyside. Unfortunately, he had some huge ups and downs during his stay at Liverpool, with high profile errors in FA Cup final against Manchester United in 1996 damaging his reputation to some extent.
But, overall, he was reliable on the pitch and an immensely talented shot-stopper who had proved it several times and had reached an emphatic tally of 478 saves in the Premier League.
He has been a saviour for the Reds in tense situations and had a fabulous career with Liverpool.
#3 Jerzy Dudek
Though Jerzy Dudek didn't enjoy a hefty long-term stay at Liverpool like other goalkeepers, he still is one of the best goalkeeping talents Anfield has witnessed. The Polish goalkeeper, of course, is remembered and forever will be for his stunning performance for the Reds in Champions League final of 2005 against AC Milan.
Through Dudek, the Anfield crowd had seen very safe hands in front of the goal there were very fewer moments when the goalkeeper put his foot wrong.
Coming from Feyenoord for a reported €7.4 million, Dudek enjoyed the best days of his career at the Red Half of Merseyside.
A great showing against AC Milan at Istanbul further illuminated his charisma as a classy goalkeeper. Particularly, the double save in the Champions League final and the penalty save from Shevchenko led Reds' to seal their 5th Champions league title and those were the charismatic moments in his extraordinary goalkeeping career.
Video: Jerzy Dudek's performance in UEFA Champions League Final 2005
#2 Pepe Reina
Arriving for a transfer fee of €9.8 million, Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina further proved to be an absolute bargain signing for the Merseyside club. When it comes to clean sheet percentage, Reina is the best goalkeeper in Liverpool history.
According to a football magazine Four Four Two, in 285 top-flight appearances for the Reds in the Premier League between 2005 and 2013, the shot-stopper kept 134 clean sheets and his clean sheet percentage is 47.02.
Moreover, Pepe Reina is the fastest man between the sticks in Reds' history to reach the landmark of 100 clean sheets breaking the records of Ray Clemence and Brue Grobbelaar. The Spaniard also won Premier League Golden Glove award in his first three seasons- 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08 and has been supreme for the Reds throughout his tenure.
#1 Bruce Grobbelaar
Gifted with immense distribution skills, an unusual attribute of leadership from the back and enormous trait of consistency, Bruce Grobbelaar arguably is the best goalkeeper in Liverpool history. Six First Division titles, three FA Cups, Three League Cups, five FA Charity Shields, one European Cup, and one Football League Super Cup, all came to Reds' trophy case when Grobbelaar was between the sticks.
The goalkeeper's wobbly-legged penalty heroics against AS Roma led Liverpool to the 1984 European Cup victory and it eventually became his trademark move. The 6feet tall goalkeeper had an immense confidence and also cast a big influence on his teammates.
Recruited from Crewe Alexandra by the Reds' in March 1981, Bruce Grobbelaar made his Liverpool debut in August 1981 and reached a sizzling tally of keeping the goal for 310 consecutive games.
Bruce Grobbelaar will be always remembered as a fantastic man in front of the goal and the South African arguable procures the top spot when it comes to best goalkeepers in Liverpool's history.
