Our writer looks at five of the best goalkeeper performances in Premier League history but which shot stopper features in top spot?
5) Joe Hart v Tottenham, 2010
City always seem to struggle at Spurs but at least on the opening day of the 2010/11 season they had an excuse.
In their line-up that afternoon they had two debutants in Yaya Toure and David Silva, players who would become legends in blue, but at this juncture were wholly unprepared for the frenetic nature of English football.
Hopelessly over-run in midfield, City faced a remarkable 14 shots on target as Tottenham ran riot.
Each and every one of them was rebuffed by a young stopper who was returning from a season-long loan at Birmingham. This was Joe Hart’s announcement that he was here to stay. Moreover, this was his claim for England recognition.
Roberto Mancini’s men couldn’t believe their luck as they smuggled a 0-0 draw out of North London.
4) Tim Flowers v Newcastle, 1995
On the penultimate weekend of an engrossing and memorable title race, Blackburn hosted the Magpies knowing a win would place one hand on the trophy. A defeat would all-but-cede the crown to a relentless Manchester United. This was win or bust.
Midway through the first half, Blackburn took a priceless lead, courtesy of an Alan Shearer header but there was still an hour to play and Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle weren’t exactly known for sitting back.
There followed a constant barrage of attacks as Peter Beardsley and company threw the kitchen sink at an increasingly nervy Rovers.
At the peak of his powers, Flowers blocked, caught and tipped around the post everything that came his way, the pick of his saves being a close-range palming away of a John Beresford effort. He changes direction in a fraction of a heartbeat. It defies belief.
The experienced stopper was engulfed by team-mates on the final whistle, grateful for his brilliance.
3) Ludek Miklosko v Manchester United, 1995
A mere week after Flowers’ heroics dented United’s title hopes a nation watched on, mouths agape, as a veteran Czech sealed the deal.
On the final day of the 94/95 season, United needed to beat the Hammers in the capital and pray that Blackburn lost at Anfield. Their prayers were answered in that regard, meaning a third league crown was entirely in their own hands.
They didn’t however factor in the opposition keeper’s hands, clawing at crosses all afternoon long and catching every shot pinged in his general vicinity.
Andy Cole alone had countless chances, all snuffed out by his lumbering frame.
With nothing to play for but pride West Ham were distantly priced in the football betting but they gave everything, no-one more so than Miklosko.
Even nearly thirty years on, mention of his name still brings Reds fans out in hives.
2) David De Gea v Arsenal, 2017
Under new boss Jose Mourinho, Manchester United gave a counter-attacking masterclass at the Emirates in 2017, letting the Gunners pass themselves silly before ruthlessly punishing them at the other end. The game finished 3-1 to the visitors, their faint title hopes kept alive in the process.
And almost all of it was down to De Gea, a sometimes maligned figure who was always capable of being miraculous for ninety minutes.
Here the Dutch stopper faced 33 shots, making 14 saves that varied from routine to magnificent. It remains a record-equalling number in the top-flight.
Mourinho was effusive post-match, calling it the best goalkeeping display he’d ever witnessed while Wenger was gracious enough to call the performance “absolutely outstanding.”
What’s the betting the Spanish international dropped a clanger a week later?
1) Peter Schmeichel v Newcastle, 1996
Just imagine watching Newcastle versus Manchester United in early March, 1996, while indulging in some live betting.
On a chilly momentous evening, nothing or no-one was going to stop Keegan’s side from extending on their lead at the top of the table, least of all their nearest challengers.
Peter Beardsley was at his sparkling best. The same went for David Ginola. Up front Les Ferdinand prowled with lethal intent.
This was the great entertainers turned rabid, in front of a crowd equally so.
Newcastle to win. Ferdinand to score. With the Reds so under the cosh against such a coterie of superb attacking talent the clicks would have been heard from space.
Except someone did stop them, many times over in fact.
With the visitors somehow securing a 1-0 win this was a tide-turning, title-deciding one-man-show from one of the greatest practitioners of his craft in our lifetime.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*
