Yet another fantastic and thrilling season of the world’s most competitive tournament has come to an end, and now it is time to analyze the best-performing players of the season. The Golden Boot and Golden Glove awards have been awarded to Harry Kane (Tottenham) and Ederson (Manchester City), respectively. Ederson Moraes, in particular, has wowed the masses in this campaign and has taken Alisson Becker’s place as the ‘star goalkeeper of the Premier League.
Although Becker (Liverpool goalkeeper) could still be considered a threat to Ederson, he has officially walked away with the Golden Glove award twice in a row — an impressive feat, indeed. The 27-year-old goalkeeper’s consistent performances, proficiency with the ball at their feet, and quickness off the line to anticipate danger has earned him praise from figures such as Andrew Hughes.
Ederson’s stats speak for themselves, and the Brazilian star has amassed 19 clean sheets in 3,240 of the minutes he played.
He has been an integral and crucial part of Manchester City’s success: two Premier League titles and a historic domestic treble. Hughes was full of admiration for the goalkeeper as he commented:
“With Ederson, you don’t know what he’s going to do. If you go man for man, at least you try to take away the idea of having a man for him to find with a pass, but then you’re in trouble if you are chasing the game and have to press him because he can play around you.
“The guy can hit a 90-yard ball onto a stamp. On the ball, he’s incredible, so in a weird kind of way, the worst thing that we decided to do was to press the keeper because he is such a good footballer that’s what City’s idea is – they want teams to press the goalkeeper. As one player presses the goalkeeper that obviously makes one player spare, so ultimately Ederson is able to find that spare player he is that good.”
The Premier League 2020/21 campaign was his second successive season, and he managed 18 shut-outs in 35 games. Closely behind is Chelsea’s Eduoard Mendy, who challenged Ederson with 16 clean sheets. Not only did he win the Golden Glove for the second season in succession, but he also won his third league title in four years, joining Manchester City in 2017.
If we sit down and count all of Ederson’s feats and stunning performances, we would not be able to do so in one sitting. The Brazilian star is also mentioned in Sportingbet’s Greatest 11 Premier League Players. Ederson is a part of their ultimate Premier League starting 11, and understandably so.
As of yet, there have been no transfer rumours revolving around Ederson. Manchester City seems to be holding on tight to the goalkeeper, who is a pivotal part of their success.
Ederson’s top three performances in the Premier League 2020/21
Ederson vs Liverpool 7/2/2021
As Roberto Firmino, Liverpool striker attempted to net a shot in the top right corner, Ederson was quick to retaliate and seemed to save it with ease. Manchester City went on to win 4-1 later that evening.
Ederson vs Leeds 3/10/20
Although Stuart Dallas, Leeds United midfielder, did manage to make it past Ederson and net two goals, the Brazilian goalkeeper displayed agility and fearlessness as he was not afraid to leave the goal line to divert one of Dallas’s shots.
Ederson vs Everton 23/05/21
Ederson’s world-class standard was very prominent in this performance. He saved a deadly penalty shot from Gylfi Sigurdsson of Everton with swiftness and smoothness.