For every supporter watching on terraces or through the telly, the role of a top class shot stopper has always been pivotal in shaping how a club’s season unfolds. The 2022 campaign in the English Premier League brought us some unforgettable performances in goal, with new signings and club legends all battling for the number one shirt in front of passionate crowds.
When we talk about the best EPL goalkeepers 2022, we do more than just compare saves and clean sheets. We are rewinding to moments where keepers turned matches, steered their sides through nervy spells, and wrote themselves into club folklore. In this guide, we’ll look at how they shaped the campaign, why fans chant their names, and what shirts marked their iconic displays.
Why This Matters
A resilient goalkeeper can lift heads in the stands and on the pitch, grounding a team when all seems lost. In 2022, as the Premier League raced along at full tilt, debates raged in pubs, living rooms, and on social feeds over who truly deserved the tag of standout keeper. Beyond stats, it is about defining saves, leadership in fraught derbies, and the confidence these players spread to supporters everywhere.
Criteria for Selection
- Consistency across the 2022 season and in crucial fixtures
- Iconic saves or match winning moments that shaped campaigns
- Influence on and off the pitch, captaincy or vocal leadership
- Legacy at club level, honours won, and cultural resonance among fans
- European exploits alongside Premier League displays
The Best EPL Goalkeepers 2022
Alisson Becker Liverpool
- Strengths: Reflexes, distribution, leadership
- Defining Match: Liverpool 1-0 West Ham, 5 March 2022
- Milestones: 20 Premier League clean sheets, third consecutive season above 15
Alisson’s match defining stop against West Ham in March 2022, where he clawed a sure goal off the line, underlined why Liverpool fans still chant his name. Since arriving in 2018, Alisson brought composure and a new winning edge to the club, a foundation for Champions League glory in 2019 and the long awaited league title that followed. His coolness under pressure speaks for Liverpool’s modern era under Klopp, and his deep connection with Anfield faithful is clear every time he salutes the Kop.
Ederson Manchester City
- Strengths: Calm under pressure, elite sweeper skills, pin point passing
- Defining Match: City 2-2 Liverpool, 10 April 2022
- Milestones: 21 clean sheets, Golden Glove joint winner
Ederson’s blend of ice cool poise and bold distribution from the back fits Guardiola’s blueprint like a glove. During the key title clash in April 2022, Ederson’s quick thinking helped City turn defence into attack in a blink, a quality that lets City fans believe anything is possible. That full sleeve kit, especially the luminous shades, remains a terrace favourite among the newer wave of City supporters.
Aaron Ramsdale Arsenal
- Strengths: Shot stopping, passion, vocal leadership
- Defining Match: Leicester 0-2 Arsenal, 30 October 2021
The save Ramsdale made from Maddison’s free kick that day was instantly dubbed a save of the season contender. A North London underdog when signed, Ramsdale’s energy soon spread to the Arsenal core. By 2022, Gunners fans viewed him as a throwback to cult heroes like David Seaman, vocal, expressive, and buzzing with honest passion. The black and pink keeper kit from this run is still spotted on match goers in Islington.
David de Gea Manchester United
Strengths: Reflex stops, shot saving in high pressure moments
Defining Match: Man United 3-2 Arsenal, 2 December 2021
Milestones: Over 500 club appearances
De Gea weathered United’s turbulent seasons with defiant solo performances, stopping more shots than anyone else in 2022. When Arsenal’s late comeback threatened, De Gea pulled out cat like stops, underlining why many call him United’s best Premier League era keeper. His partnership with the Stretford End, old gold kit and all, keeps him in high regard among the faithful.
Jose Sa Wolverhampton Wanderers
Strengths: Quick reactions, aggressive aerial command
Defining Match: Everton 2-3 Wolves, 26 February 2022
Stepping into Rui Patricio’s gloves was never going to be straightforward. Yet by the back half of 2022, Jose Sa was pulling out vital saves to keep Wolves fighting for Europe. Supporters respect his hunger, no fear mentality, which channeled the gritty Wolves culture in those black and gold shirts.
Era Context: 2022 in the English Premier League
The 2022 season was an intense campaign where clean sheets became treasures. Liverpool and City jousted at the summit, both relying on world class shot stoppers in Alisson and Ederson. Arsenal’s rise saw a young English keeper bring fresh optimism to the Emirates. Lower down, keepers like Sa gave clubs outside the traditional elite the belief to hunt for European places.
The kit landscape followed this trend, with striking goalkeeper designs from Liverpool’s sharp yellow to Wolves’ black and gold, selling briskly as fans looked to channel the spirit of those in goal.
Find your club’s current goalkeeper kits in the cheapfootballshirts.com goalkeeper collection.
What to Watch Next Season
The best EPL goalkeepers 2022 laid down markers and set new standards for what supporters expect. Young challengers are breathing down established necks, and bold signings will ensure the debate rolls into next year. Expect new narratives can Ramsdale continue his rise, will Alisson and Ederson battle for clean sheet records, or might a new face emerge as a terrace favourite?
FAQs
- How are the best EPL goalkeepers for 2022 ranked?
Rankings weigh clean sheets, consistency, big game performances and cultural impact on fans and the wider club. - Why is the shirt a meaningful part of a keeper’s legacy?
A standout keeper kit, like Ederson’s luminous design, instantly links fans to defining matches and a specific era in club history. What the keeper wears can become as iconic as their saves. - Who kept the most clean sheets in the 2022 season?
Both Alisson and Ederson finished with 20 plus clean sheets, sharing the Golden Glove and setting a standard for the division. - Which Premier League club had the strongest keeper rotation in 2022?
Manchester United and Arsenal relied most on a single number one, while Chelsea and Liverpool rotated sparingly, trusting their mainstays. - What happens when a keeper is injured mid season?
Clubs typically have a backup number one ready, but a long absence can affect defensive confidence and results, making a reliable number two crucial.
Conclusion
Looking back, the best EPL goalkeepers 2022 represents more than stats in a column. It is about the electric roar after a game saving stop, the sea of supporter shirts waving in the stand, and how keepers become the backbone of their club’s identity. As supporters, we will remember the aura Alisson brought to Anfield, the passing thrills of Ederson at City, and the raw passion Ramsdale gives Arsenal. These moments become part of the colour and pride worn on terraces and city streets.
Ready to show your colours and honour your club’s last line of defence? Explore your team’s 2022 goalkeeper shirts over at cheapfootballshirts.com for a piece of recent match day history.
