The Premier League has been home to some of the finest goalkeepers that world football has ever seen. Jamie Carragher has been handed the difficult task of ranking the top 10 glovesmen in the division's history.
To add extra pressure, Manchester United legend Edwin van der Sar was overseeing his selections on Monday Night Football. The Dutchman is undoubtedly one of the best 'keepers in Premier League history and is therefore an expert in the field.
Of course, Van der Sar made Carragher's list. But where did he end up? And which top-class goalkeepers missed out? Find out below.
10 Pepe Reina
Pepe Reina
The first man to make the top 10 was Carragher's old teammate Pepe Reina. The Spaniard was brilliant with his feet before it was a requirement for goalkeepers. Not only that, but he has the best clean sheet ratio (45.8%) of any shot-stopper in the division's history, as his ex-Liverpool colleague pointed out:
"He's got the best clean sheet percentage (45.8%). He was a fantastic goalkeeper, the best I played with so as I said, he's number one in terms of keeping clean sheets in Premier League history."
9 David Seaman
David Seaman towards the end of his Arsenal career gives his teammate a thumbs up.
David Seaman is the only English player to make Carragher's list. Despite narrowly missing out on being a member of the Invincibles squad in 2003-04, the Three Lions legend had an incredible CV at Arsenal, including two Premier League crowns. Carragher stated:
"He had a brilliant career at Arsenal with what he did for England as well. The defensive record with him and that famous back four was absolutely outstanding. So yes, David Seaman goes in."
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8 Neville Southall
Everton goalkeeper Neville Southall instructs his teammates.
It may shock some to see Welsh hero Neville Southall find a place among the top Premier League goalkeepers. Mainly because the lion's share of his glittering career came before the league's inception in 1992. Despite that, Carragher believes he's one of only four world-class players Everton have ever had. He even went as far as calling for a statue to be built outside the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
"The reason he's coming in is because, for me, in the 80s and before the Premier League, he was the best goalkeeper in the world. So if we were only judging all these goalkeepers on just their careers, Neville Southall would be in my top two or three."
7 Ederson
Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson
Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson
Ex-Manchester City superstar Ederson is almost unanimously seen as the best football-playing 'keeper the Premier League has ever had. The Brazilian had the ability of a playmaking midfielder in between the posts, and even managed to pick up seven assists. His record of 112 clean sheets in 276 appearances isn't bad either. Carragher explained:
"More Premier League titles than any other 'keeper, with six. As a goalkeeper, fantastic still, but obviously there are people better. I actually think what he did for Manchester City, he was almost like a cheat code. You talk about getting after Man City, you couldn't because of this [his distribution]."
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6 Edwin van der Sar
Edwin van der Sar
A priceless moment saw Carragher have to break the news to Van der Sar's face that he hadn't made it into the top five. The Dutch giant burst into laughter, stating: "I thought I'd make the top five at least, Jamie, come on!"
It was all in good spirits, as the pair shook hands before Carragher explained his thinking. Initially coming to England to represent Fulham, the giant shot-stopper joined Man Utd and won four titles in a truly dominant team. His Monday Night Football co-pundit said:
"You were in the top five until you mentioned I hadn't won the Premier League, so I had to drop you down one or two places. Edwin, what you did at Manchester United was absolutely fantastic and I apologise if you feel you should be higher.
"Gary Neville said it better than me before the game when he said you came in and Manchester United started winning titles again and getting into Champions League finals. A real calm influence."
See Van der Sar's reaction to finishing 6th in Carragher's list:
5 Thibaut Courtois
Thibaut Courtois at Chelsea
Thibaut Courtois at Chelsea
Thibaut Courtois was in the English top-flight for the shortest amount of time in this entire list, spending four seasons at Stamford Bridge. However, the Belgian was impeccable between the posts for Chelsea, winning the title under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte. As Carragher pointed out, every team needs a world-class 'keeper to win the league:
"Listen he wasn't in England for so long but he made a real impact. When you think about how important goalkeepers are, when you get a top goalkeeper, you win the league.
"We think of Chelsea as being a dominant team in the Premier League; they've only won it with Petr Cech and Courtois. Two absolute legendary goalkeepers and maybe he could be higher if you're judging goalkeepers on their whole careers."
4 David De Gea
Manchester United's David de Gea
Premier League - Manchester United v Fulham - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - May 28, 2023 Manchester United's David de Gea reacts Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
Despite having only one Premier League trophy in his cabinet, which came in his first year under Sir Alex Ferguson, David De Gea just missed out on the podium. His presence in the PFA Team of the Year five times was the factor that swayed Carragher. The ex-Liverpool man recalled De Gea's sensational ability to stop the ball with his feet, while saying:
"David De Gea doesn't have the trophies and I said that was important in terms of Premier Leagues and Champions Leagues. But what he has is this [most PFA Team of the Year appearances of any GK]. When you're the best goalkeeper five times in a PFA Team of the Year, it is pretty remarkable."
3 Alisson Becker
alisson
Liverpool's No.1, Alisson Becker, was lavished with praise by the ex-Reds defender. Along with the likes of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, the Brazil international changed the Merseysiders' fortunes under Jurgen Klopp. He is the best 1v1 goalkeeper Carragher has ever seen, which is quite something:
"He's changed the history of the football club. You think of the big signings, Salah at one end and Virgil van Dijk behind, but him as a goalkeeper.
"Liverpool could not win the league with the goalkeepers they had before this guy. He makes the difference. It's going to be a very sad day when he moves on. I think for a few years he was the best goalkeeper in the world. Absolutely outstanding with his feet. The thing that stands out for me is his 1v1s. I've never seen anyone as good as him."
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2 Peter Schmeichel
Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel celebrates with outstretched arms.
In a close contest between the top two, it's Danish legend Peter Schmeichel who has to settle for the runner-up spot. With Manchester United, Aston Villa and Manchester City, the big shot-stopper was unbelievable and had the longevity in England to match anyone. The five-time league winner is one of the only 'keepers to have scored in the division. Carragher summed up:
"I think a lot of people would have him at number one, and I have been debating this all day. He almost changed goalkeeping and I think he changed the history of Manchester United. People talk about Cantona, and rightly so, but he was as important, if not more."
1 Petr Cech
Petr Cech celebrates
And it was, of course, Petr Cech in the number one spot. With the most clean sheets in Premier League history (202), the Czech star actually nudged ahead of Schmeichel due to his European heroics. Cech was instrumental in Chelsea's first-ever Champions League win in 2012, putting in a wonderful display against Bayern Munich. While also acknowledging his domestic brilliance, Carragher said:
"The reason I went for Petr Cech was, I couldn't get his performance in the Champions League final out of my head. I was in the stadium that night and he kept Chelsea in that game and won them that game. The second reason was, we used to go into games and think, 'How are we going to score against him?'"
Statistics in this article are courtesy of the Premier League. Correct as of 24-02-26.