Mads Hermansen is Premier League goalkeeper of the season so far

Courtesy of the wonderful FBREF we’ve used the PSxG minus goals allowed metric to rank the top-flight stoppers. ‘What the f*** is that?’ you might reasonably ask…

Post-shot expected goals is expected goals based on how likely the goalkeeper is to save the shot. When the number of goals they have conceded is subtracted, we are left with the figures below. FBREF explains that positive numbers suggest better luck or an above-average ability to stop shots.

Here’s how the Premier League keepers have performed this season, and at this early stage they must have started six Premier League games.

1) Mads Hermansen (Leicester City): +4.7
Only one keeper has ever made more saves in a Premier League game than the 13 Hermansen managed against Arsenal. That was David de Gea against the Gunners in December 2017; the Foxes’ No. 1 was unfortunate that Mikel Arteta’s side are slightly better now. He settled into mid-table of this list through October/November but he made seven saves v West Ham as Leicester returned to winning ways. And then made another five v Brighton.

Along with Southampton, Leicester have conceded the most PSxG of any Premier League team this season but Hermansen is helping keep them out of the relegation zone.

1) Andre Onana (Manchester United): +3.9
Currently on course for the Golden Glove as Onana is the only Premier League goalkeeper to keep six clean sheets, with the sixth coming against Everton (who gave him very little to do). Was exposed v Arsenal but then had an absolute ‘mare v Nottingham Forest, making no saves and allowing committing a howler for the Morgan Gibbs-White goal.

3) Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace): +3.0
Very motivated to make a point v Manchester United after their ‘criminal’ decision, but when not fuelled by spite you get two Dwight McNeil goals conceded from a PSxG of 0.6 against Everton. But he was brilliant in almost keeping out Nottingham Forest, then bagged another clean sheet v Spurs. Then his numbers were given a boost with a saved penalty v Aston Villa. A clean sheet v Ipswich was very welcome indeed and he then under-conceded v Manchester City. He is helping a vulnerable Palace team stay out of the relegation zone.

4) Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham): +2.9
He struggles with set-pieces but his shot-stopping is pretty exemplary; he had under-conceded (is that a thing?) in all his Premier League games until that batsh*t game v Brighton. Made five saves v Crystal Palace and then none v Aston Villa. Only actually made one save v Ipswich Town but it was a belter. And was brilliant in keeping a clean sheet v Manchester City. Now absent though injury.

5) Alisson (Liverpool): +2.5
The best goalkeeper on this metric two years ago, and is in the mix again. He has the best save percentage in the Premier League at a smidge over 88%. Currently injured.

6) Nick Pope (Newcastle): +1.6
Ranks third for saves, which feels like too many saves for a Newcastle goalkeeper to be making. Came out of the 3-3 draw v Liverpool in credit thanks to some fine saves, but letting in four v Brentford was sub-optimal.

7) Caoimin Kelleher (Liverpool): 1.4
Will surely leave Liverpool next summer at the latest; his numbers are good but not in the Alisson bracket. Saved well from Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne to stay clean v Manchester City, but was poor v Newcastle.

8) Arjanet Muric (Ipswich Town): +1.4
A very, very busy boy in that Ipswich goal but just about emerges in credit.

9) Ederson (Manchester City): +1.1
He’s a lot busier without Rodri. Alarmingly, City allowed pretty much exactly the same quality of chances in the first 12 games of the season as Manchester United. He was then dropped for the trip to Liverpool.

10) Lukasz Fabianski (West Ham): +0.7
Better than the alternative but he was rotten v Arsenal in a 5-2 defeat.

11) Bart Verbruggen (Brighton): +0.8
Made literally no saves as Brighton lost to Fulham – and made only one v Leicester – but it’s been a positive first season as undisputed Seagulls No. 1.

12) Robert Sanchez (Chelsea): +1.4
Is behind only Alisson in terms of save percentage but still gets pelters from pundits.

13) Aaron Ramsdale (Southampton): -0.3
Made five saves to keep a first clean sheet of the season v Everton. He will need many more to keep the Saints in the Premier League.

14) Kepa (Bournemouth): -1.2
Finally kept a second clean sheet of the season v Tottenham and was excellent v Ipswich Town.

15) Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest): -1.0
One among many incompetent Forest keepers last season but has an 72% save percentage this season and five clean sheets. He was excellent to safeguard a point v Chelsea and then a clean sheet v Crystal Palace. Was barely tested v Leicester City and West Ham, but then exposed v Newcastle United, Arsenal and Manchester City.

16) Mark Flekken (Brentford): -1.4
Consistently one of the worst goalkeepers on this metric last season, no keeper has made more saves than Flekken this season.

14) David Raya (Arsenal): -1.6
Arsenal have the lowest PSxG against them this season so it’s hard for a goalkeeper to truly shine. He’s not down here because he’s one of the worst goalkeepers in the Premier League. He made one excellent save v Manchester United.

18) Bernd Leno (Fulham): -2.8
His save percentage has dropped from 72% to 66% this season.

19) Jordan Pickford (Everton): -3.0
Conceded four goals from five shots on target v Manchester United. Everton are in all kinds of trouble.

20) Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa): -3.5
Not the sort of player you expect to see down here, but it took a rotten Manchester United for him to finally keep a clean sheet. Saved a penalty v Fulham to boost his numbers but was poor v Tottenham and then Chelsea. Had literally nothing to do v Southampton.

21) Alphonse Areola (West Ham): -3.6
Worst save percentage in the Premier League. Has long been replaced.

22) Jose Sa (Wolves): -5.2
Kept his first clean sheet of the season v Southampton but was required to make exactly zero saves. Was barely tested by Fulham. Was very much tested v Bournemouth and Everton and was found wanting.