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#3 Illan Meslier (Leeds United)
Following a blistering campaign in the Championship, Leeds United booked themselves a spot in the English Premier League 2020-21 campaign. They played impressive attacking football throughout the season, but it was their keeper that helped them stay afloat in the Premier League.
The 21-year-old French goalkeeper was in scintillating form in the league and showed no nerves even in front of some of the most feared goalscorers in the world. His command inside the box was well documented and his quick decision-making won many hearts.
Meslier also became the youngest Premier League keeper in history to keep 10 clean sheets - a record that was previously held by Manchester City's Joe Hart. He ended the season with 36 appearances, denying the attackers in 11 of those matches. Expect him to continue impressing this season as well.
#2 Edouard Mendy (Chelsea)
Kepa Arrizabalaga may very well be the most expensive goalkeeper in the history of football, but it is Edouard Mendy who has managed to become Chelsea’s go-to man under the crossbar.
Mendy is a France-born Senegalese footballer who played for Marseille B and Stade Rennais before donning the Chelsea shirt in September 2020. He was immediately given the nod ahead of Kepa, and the gamble paid off handsomely. The 29-year-old impressed with his shot-stopping skills and was mighty impressive with the ball as well.
The player successfully got the better of Kepa in the Premier League last season, but the Spaniard is slowly coming back to the good books of Thomas Tuchel — especially after the shootout heroics against Villarreal in the UEFA Super Cup. Mendy is still expected to get the nod in Chelsea’s first Premier League outing against Aston Villa on Saturday, but there is no margin for error anymore.
#1 Alisson (Liverpool)
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson became a revelation days after he signed for the Premier League aspirants in 2018. He was good with the ball, organized his defenders immaculately, and had commendable shot-stopping skills.
He played a crucial role as Liverpool broke their Premier League drought in the 2019-20 season. Unfortunately, he could not maintain his purple patch in the Premier League and was way below his usual standards. In 33 Premier League matches, Alisson managed to keep only 10 clean sheets, conceding 32 goals in the process. He also committed the most fatal errors — three — that led to a goal. He topped off the season by scoring a historic goal against West Brom, but it was not enough to save him from criticism.
Liverpool will need their first-choice keeper to regain the confidence he lost last season. Without him, the Reds do not seem to have any chance of taking the fight to other title contenders.
