Premier League: What is your club’s best save?

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Last time we asked our community of Premier League fans to pick the best goal they’ve ever seen their team score, but what about those unsung heroes at the other end of the pitch?

This week they have chosen the best save they have ever seen from a goalkeeper from their team:

Arsenal

The biggest save our legendary goalkeeper David Seaman made was in the 2003 FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United, denying Paul Peschisolido’s header. Seaman literally made a fingertip save on the line to deny the goal, an absolutely incredible save in a crucial game.

astonville

During Villa’s play-off semi-final against West Bromwich Albion in 2019, Jed Steer made three saves in two games that proved instrumental in his promotion. First a fantastic save from a Jay Rodríguez shot intended for the top corner, then two fantastic penalty saves in the second leg sent Villa to Wembley.

bournemouth

Artur Boruc made a vital stop at Reading in April 2015, a moment that was pivotal in our promotion to the Premier League. After taking an early lead, Boruc had an incredible reaction to deny Jamie Mackie, one that proved game-breaking as we held on to win 1-0.

brentford

The best save I’ve ever seen a Brentford goalkeeper make was an impressive save by Arsenal’s loan goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny in 2010. Near the end of a goalless draw at Bristol Rovers, he somehow stuck out a hand while diving to the other side. deny Chris Lines a winner. We couldn’t believe what we had seen.

Brighton and Hove Albion

Hard to choose one! I have gone for two, one for the Championship and the other for the FA Cup. Firstly, David Stockdale’s double penalty save against Sheffield Wednesday on our way to promotion to the Premier League. Second, Jason Steele’s four (yes, four) penalty saves against Newport County in the FA Cup. Brilliance.

chelsea

Petr Cech made some special saves during his time at Chelsea, none better than his goal-line save of Liverpool’s Andy Carroll to help win the 2012 FA Cup Final. Carroll’s bullet will cross the line with a flying right hand and help off the bottom of the crossbar.

crystal Palace

There aren’t many bigger venues than Wembley and the Championship play-off final. The entire stadium came to a standstill as Watford’s Troy Deeney was about to send the ball into the back of the net before Julian Speroni’s handball somehow thwarted him to keep the game scoreless. The rest, as they say, is history.

Everton

Jordan Pickford’s best save came when Everton were 18th in the league in May 2022 and he helped us two points from safety in a 1-0 win against Chelsea. A shot from Mason Mount hit the post and it was a man possessed who ran across the line for a stunning save by Cesar Azpilicueta.

fulham

Twenty years ago, Edwin van der Sar kept the Invincibles out of Arsenal during a goalless draw at Highbury. Arsene Wenger called him “unbeatable” and while there wasn’t a single standout save, I remember the Dutchman repelling a ferocious drive from compatriot Dennis Bergkamp before lining up the follow-up from Freddie Ljungberg.

united leeds

One save that immediately comes to mind is Illan Meslier’s in September 2020 in our Yorkshire derby against Sheffield United. It was a world class save from a man who was only 20 years old at the time. John Lundstram’s effort towards goal looked like it was going 100% and I still don’t understand how Meslier achieved that. We kept a clean sheet in that game and came home with all three points.

leicester city

Our biggest save came from Kasper Schmeichel in the FA Cup final against Chelsea. When two former Foxes, N’Golo Kante and Ben Chilwell, created a chance that took Schmeichel to full length, driving Chilwell’s header into the post, we felt the odds were in our favor to go on and win our first FA Cup.

Liverpool

Time stopped when Napoli’s Arkadiusz Milik scored the goal on 91 minutes. An equalizer would have put Liverpool out, but then Alisson came off the goal and opened up to clear the ball. Altering the course of football history, Liverpool won their sixth European Cup.

manchester city

Think back to the 1999 third division play-off final for the biggest save I’ve ever seen a City goalkeeper make. A penalty shootout against Gillingham at Wembley to literally save the club from oblivion. Step up to Nicky Weaver. The Manchester City we all know today would potentially not even exist if not for Weaver’s two penalty saves from 12 yards out.

manchester united

On a rainy night in Moscow, with Manchester United on the verge of European success, Edwin van der Sar produced a save that gave Sir Alex Ferguson his second Champions League and underlined his reputation as the world’s greatest manager. He denied Nicolás Anelka and left John Terry crying.

Newcastle United

February 2002, Stadium of Light, the Derby! Newcastle United came close to securing Champions League football. Kevin Phillips steps in from the left and throws a hammer from 25 yards and heads straight for the top corner until Shay Given’s cat-like reflexes knock him over the bar – an impressive save and such a big minute-winner moment 64. by Nikos Dabizas.

nottingham forest

The best save I’ve ever witnessed was Jordan Smith’s against Ipswich Town in May 2017, the last game of the season. The Ipswich striker had a chance to make it 1-1, but Smith saved the shot on the crossbar, also saving Forest from relegation to League One.

southampton

Fond memories of a good day at Elland Road thanks to a series of excellent saves from Kelvin Davis to take the win, a clean sheet and extend the Saints’ lead at the top of the Championship. The best was Luciano Becchio’s recovery on the goal line from five meters and then denying the rebound. Davis was vital in our eventual promotion back to the Premier League, but that game was Kelvin’s best.

tottenham hotspur

Considering that Spurs reached the Champions League final in 2019, my mind goes back to Hugo Lloris’ penalty save of Sergio Agüero in the quarter-final. How different it might have been if the captain hadn’t deftly ducked to his right to deny the Argentine. Spurs advanced to the semi-final on the away goals rule.

West Ham United

Minute 26 of the Europa League quarterfinals and Sevilla’s Youssef En-Nesyri shoots a ball towards the goal. Alphonse Areola reacts acrobatically, keeping the score 0-0. We won that game at the end, and I really think if we conceded at that point, West Ham would have struggled to turn the game around.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wolves were leading 1-0 against promotion rivals Cardiff when Mike Dean awarded not one, but two penalties in stoppage time. The first was taken by Gary Madine but John Ruddy dove low to the left of him brilliantly driving the ball back for a corner. Junior Hoilett took second only to hit this one off the crossbar, resulting in chaos when the whistle blew. Wolves were promoted to the Premier League eight days later without kicking another ball!

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