Alisson Becker: Statistically the Best Goalkeeper in the Premier League

Despite his omission from the PFA Team of the Year, Alisson is the better goalkeeper

The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Team of the Year is an annual award given to a set of footballers from each of the top four tiers of English Football and is meant to be an accolade awarded to those who are the most deserving. The shortlist is compiled by the members of the players’ trade union, i.e. the PFA in January each year and the winners are then voted for by their fellow players in each respective league.

Personally, I have two major gripes with the Team of the Year nomination. Firstly, the shortlist is compiled in January with awards being dished out towards the end of April, yet the Premier League and the other Leagues in the top four tiers only wrap up their seasons in May. So why have a shortlist compiled in January? Secondly - and the reason for this article - is that whether the shortlist was compiled in January or whether they did it today, Alisson Becker and not Ederson Morae, should be the PFA goalkeeper of the year. Here’s why.

Clean Sheets

Alisson Becker signed for Liverpool on 19 July 2018 for a record-breaking fee at the time and has been worth every cent. He has recorded the highest tally of clean sheets in the Premier League this season with a total of 19 and has surpassed David De Gea’s outstanding record of 18 of last season. Further to that, he has recorded the highest amount of clean sheets in the Premier League in the past decade. Petr Cech still holds the highest record in the Premier League in a single season which was during 2004-05 when he ended the season on 24 clean sheets.

Meanwhile, Manchester City’s Ederson has had a total of 18 clean sheets, while Chelsea’s Kepa has had 13. David de Gea has only had 7 clean sheets this season.

Exceeding Expectations (courtesy of Opta)

An important goalkeeping statistic which was introduced by the Expected Goals Conceded (xGC). To calculate the Expected goals’ (xG) for a match, every shot is analysed and then given an ‘Expected goal value’ (EGV). The EGV of a shot assumes that it has been taken by someone of average ability in the league. The value is determined by several factors, including; where the shot was taken from, the proximity of defenders, and the nature of the attack, i.e. whether it was a free-kick or a penalty as well as the quality of the assist.

Alisson’s xGC is 27 (26.80) goals. However, he has only conceded 20 Premier League goals this season, thusly outperforming his total by 6.80 goals, i.e. he has let in fewer goals than expected.

• Ederson has conceded 22 goals 24.51 exceeding by 2.51
• De Gea has conceded 50 goals 48.22 under-performing by 1.78
• Kepa has conceded 38 goals 35.37, under-performing by 2.63

Ratio in the Box

Alisson’s speed and his quick reflexes are best reflected at close range and does put him among the best keepers in the world. He excels at stooping low, pushing the ball away with both hands and his ability to narrow the angle for oncoming forward players. Statistically, of all the goalkeepers to have started more than five Premier League matches, Alisson is the hardest to beat when it comes to saves in the box.

His save percentage shots in the box is 70.77 and he is followed by Arsenal’s Petr Cech 69.57%, Tottenham Hotspur’s Hugo Lloris with 69.51% and Manchester City’s Ederson on 64.91%. Although he has not been the busiest goalkeeper this season which is in large part thanks to the best defender in the world, i.e. Virgil van Dijk, Alisson has made more stops per goal conceded than any of the other PL goalkeepers with a ratio of 3.45 with Petr Cech in second with a ratio of 3.11 and Hugo Lloris in third place with 2.86.

In closing, it is abundantly clear that based on statistics alone, Brazil’s number one is the best goalkeeper in the Premier League. Thusly, allow me to end with this quote about Alisson courtesy of Roma’s former goalkeeping coach Roberto Negrisolo:

“I don’t think many people know who Alisson is. This guy is a phenomenon. He is the number one of number ones.”

My sentiments exactly.

Up the Mighty (Golden Glove) Reds!

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com