Premier League saves of the season: Raya, Donnarumma denied top stop | OneFootball

David Raya and Gianluigi Donnarumma made huge saves at crucial times but the Arsenal and Manchester City keepers are denied by a flexing Mackem.

We’ve seen some awful football in the Premier League this season, but amid the dross, there have been some moments of shot-stopping genius.

Not just incredible acts of cat-ery, but at massive moments too.

We’ve whittled down all the brilliant saves in the Premier League this season to the top five, the context of all of them amplifying the quality…

5) Aaron Ramsdale – Newcastle 2-1 Man Utd

The scene: 89th minute at St James’ Park with Newcastle, on a wretched run and down to 10 men, finally under sustained pressure with Manchester United seeking a winner. Ramsdale, in the Toon side for a rare Premier League appearance and given the chance to displace Nick Pope as Newcastle’s No.1, has already made one very fine save to keep out Leny Yoro’s close-range header.

The save: Joshua Zirkzee picked the ball up 30 yards from goal and thought ‘f*** it’. His shot, carrying little spin on a haphazard flight path makes any big, early movement from Ramsdale a risk. His only option: to wait to pick up the flight before shifting late and fast. With precision timing, the Newcastle keeper micro-steps into take-off, thrusting his closest hand while arching slightly back, not only to get a full hand behind the ball but to divert it off its dangerous course.

The consequence: Newcastle defend the corner then send William Osula away on the break to score a winning goal to match the save that gave the Magpies the stage to secure an unlikely and much-needed win.

The reaction:

4) Martin Dubravka – Wolves 2-3 Burnley

The scene: Molineux, the clocks have just gone back, and Wolves are still without a win against a Burnley side in dire need of points against their relegation rivals. The Clarets have just scored in the 95th minute to go 3-2 up for what could be a massive win. Wolves kick off and immediately pile forward…

The save: The hosts hoik the ball into the box, with Jorgen Strand Larsen’s delightful touch teeing up Santiago Bueno 12 yards out, to the right of goal. His left-foot shot, knee over the ball, could not really be hit sweeter. It’s arrowing inside the near post. The old cliche doesn’t apply here – Dubravka had little to no right to reach it. Contorting his closest leg – neither sweeping it nor stepping with it – the Slovakian thrusts down a left hand, not only to keep it out but to kill it, preventing any rebound.

The consequence: The reaction of his team-mates closest to the scene highlight the quality and importance of the save. It got Burnley over the line, keeping Wolves winless while the Clarets climbed to 16th with five points’ breathing space between themselves and the bottom three.

The reaction:

3) Gianluigi Donnarumma – Liverpool 1-2 Man City

The scene: Anfield, the ninth minute of seven initially added is about to tick over with City having just gone 2-1 up amid a frankly ridiculous finale. Liverpool have chucked Virgil van Dijk forward…

The save: Van Dijk beats Erling Haaland to Ryan Gravenberch’s hit and hope, the ball falling to Alexis Mac Allister. He chests it down and, on the bounce, volleys towards goal. It might not have bothered Donnarumma quite so much had Ruben Dias not turned his back to the shot, the massive coward. The deflection propels a loopy ball towards Donnarumma’s right corner, forcing the big Italian to seek more depth before loading up the right leg and pushing off, all in the blink of an eye. Arching his massive frame, he gets a big paw behind the ball, parrying it harmlessly into the Kop.

The consequence: City, who trailed with 83 minutes gone, see out the win, amid some even-later VAR nonsense, to keep the title race alive. They go to within six points of Arsenal while Pep Guardiola pats himself on the back for taking the chance to buy Donnarumma when he had the chance, even if he had James Trafford right there.

The reaction:

2) David Raya – Arsenal 2-1 Brighton

The scene: Into the final 15 minutes at the Emirates, in the no-man’s-land between Christmas and New Year, with Arsenal hanging on against a Brighton side who just won’t die.

The save: In a rare outbreak of football at the Emirates, Brighton’s neat build up tees up Yankuba Minteh to the right of the box. Raya moves left into line and sets as Minteh goes to curl one into the far corner. The Brighton winger’s execution is faultless, giving Raya no time for a power step into his dive. Instead, the Spain keeper pushes off his outside foot, while the closest foot to the ball comes in to the line of his body to provide extra ascent. A decision: top hand or closest? Raya opts to lead with the right paw, meaning he can get underneath the ball to guide it above the bar.

The consequence: Arsenal hold firm to reclaim top spot after City had edged ahead earlier in the day.

The reaction:

1) Jordan Pickford – Newcastle 2-3 Everton

The scene: Added time at St James’ Park and Newcastle are trailing 3-2 in a game between two sides in need of points and an uplift…

The save: Michael Keane gets decent height and distance on his defensive header, clearing the box but landing in a central area on the edge of the D. Suddenly, Sandro Tonali bursts into shot and strikes a volley as sweet as can be. Even if it’s straight at your average keeper, the pace either beats him or buries him in the net, but it’s rocketing to Pickford’s right. He sets late as the ball drops on Tonali’s laces and instinctively pushes off. The power on the ball ought to take Pickford’s hand off at the wrist but, somehow, the England No.1 gets enough behind it to push it up, on to the bar, and into the disbelieving Gallowgate End.

The consequence: Being denied at the death is tough enough for Toon to take, but the sight of Pickford flexing before their favourite Mackem makes off with three points boils all the p*ss on Tyneside.