With the new Premier League season just around the corner, now is the time to start thinking about your fantasy football team.
And what better place to start than with your goalkeeper?
After all, they are often the difference between winning and losing in fantasy football.
Having a good shot-stopper on your team is critical for FPL managers looking to get the most out of their squad.
With the transfer window open for business and high-profile signings being made left and right, fantasy football managers tend to get fidgety about which forwards or midfielders to select ahead of the new campaign.
Full-backs also generate plenty of tactical talk, but goalkeepers tend to be overlooked given the fact their potential for goals and assists is all but nil.
Shot-stoppers do have a critical impact on the game, though, with the finest ones capable of earning large scores with clean sheet bonuses – and we are here to provide you a list of those that you should think about including in your teams.
How important are goalkeepers in football?
Goalkeepers are often considered to be the most important players on a football team. After all, they are the ones who have the responsibility of keeping the ball out of the net and ensuring their team doesn’t concede any goals.
However, some people believe that goalkeepers are not as important as other players on the pitch, such as the strikers who score the goals. This is a misconception, as goalkeepers play a vital role in both preventing goals and helping their team to win matches.
There are a number of reasons why goalkeepers are so important in football. Firstly, they are the last line of defence and can often make game-changing saves that keep their team in the game. Secondly, they have a good understanding of the game and can provide crucial information to their teammates during the match. Finally, they are often the captain of the team and have a lot of responsibility.
So, goalkeepers are extremely important in football and are vital to a team’s success. Without a good goalkeeper, it would be very difficult for a team to win matches. Goalkeepers are the unsung heroes of the game and deserve more credit than they often get.
Goalkeepers are often lauded for their heroics, but they also face criticism when things go wrong. They are under immense pressure to perform at the highest level and make split-second decisions that can change the course of a game.
Whether you love them or hate them, there’s no denying that goalkeepers are a crucial part of the beautiful game.
The top FPL goalkeepers for 22-23
- Alisson | Liverpool
Since joining Liverpool from Roma in 2018, Alisson has claimed the Premier League Golden Glove for having the most clean sheets on two occasions, including in 2021-22.
Following a few shaky weeks, Alisson has been one of Liverpool’s best players this month. With his great shot-stopping and distribution abilities, alongside some fantastic saves to keep the score down in Manchester City’s last home match when they were without Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, he’ll surely be a popular pick for FPL managers who forget the first-choice stopper.
- Ederson | Manchester City
The Brazilian keeper is another excellent choice for FPL managers. He was a key player in Pep Guardiola’s side that won the Premier League title in 2020-21 and has also been named in the PFA Team of the Season for his performances.
He’s not only a great shot-stopper, but he’s also excellent with his feet, which is a valuable asset for any team playing out from the back.
Ederson was 21 points behind his compatriot at the top of the FPL scoring charts last term, but he was the one that ended up with a Premier League winners’ medal, and could be the best choice between the sticks on FPL in 2022-23 if Man City’s domination continues.
- Nick Pope | Burnley
Pope was another excellent goalkeeper in 2020-21, claiming the Golden Glove with 15 clean sheets. He’s been a key player for Sean Dyche’s side over the past few seasons and is sure to be a popular pick again this year.
Newcastle have won the race for the 30-year-old’s signature and he is now set to replace Martin Dubravka as Eddie Howe’s No.1, with another solid summer signing in the form of Dutch defender Sven Botman in line to lead the defence in front of him.
That pairing could transform the Magpies into one of the top defensive sides in the top-flight, and he represents a solid option for any FPL manager looking to leave a bit of money in the pot for outfield additions.
- Kasper Schmeichel | Leicester City
Schmeichel was another keeper who had an excellent 2020-21 season, as he helped Leicester City to a fifth-placed finish in the Premier League. He’s also been a key player for Denmark at international level.
As well as being a great shot-stopper, Schmeichel is also excellent at dealing with crosses and has good distribution.
- David de Gea | Manchester United
De Gea had a difficult season in 2020-21, as he made a number of high-profile errors that led to goals. However, he’s still one of the best goalkeepers in the world and is sure to be a popular pick for FPL managers.
He’s likely to be back to his best this season and is sure to be a key player for Manchester United as they look to challenge for the title.
- Hugo Lloris | Tottenham Hotspur
Lloris is another top goalkeeper who had a difficult season in 2020-21. He made a number of errors that led to goals, but he’s still a top-class keeper.
He’s likely to be back to his best this season and is sure to be a key player for Tottenham Hotspur as they look to challenge for the title.
Lloris has had his critics during his time at Tottenham, but he was a rock as the last line of defence for Antonio Conte’s side towards the back end of the 2021-22 campaign.
He kept a total of 16 Premier League clean sheets as Spurs pipped arch-rivals Arsenal to fourth place, and after finishing as the second-highest scoring goalkeeper in FPL he is likely to be in even higher demand.
- Jordan Pickford | Everton
Pickford had a mixed season in 2020-21, as he made some great saves but also some high-profile errors. He’s still a good keeper and is likely to be Everton’s first-choice stopper again this season.
As well as being a good shot-stopper, Pickford is also excellent at dealing with crosses and has good distribution.
- Jose Sa | Wolves
In 2021-22, Wolves netminder Sa had the most points among FPL goalkeepers and was only bested by the first three goalkeepers on this list (146).
The 31-year-old has a tremendous opportunity to continue as first choice with Wolves in the Premier League, and he is an appealing option due to his clean sheet record of 11 shutouts.
- Dean Henderson | Sheffield United
Henderson had an excellent season on loan at Sheffield United in 2020-21, as he helped them to a ninth-placed finish in the Premier League. He’s likely to be back with the Blades again this season and is sure to be a key player for them.
As well as being a great shot-stopper, Henderson is also excellent with his feet, which is a valuable asset for any team playing out from the back.
- Aaron Ramsdale | Arsenal
The defender’s prospects at Arsenal looked bright entering the 2017-18 season, as he was a member of an Arsenal team that allowed 48 goals and just missed out on a top four Premier League finish and qualification for the Champions League.
While his FPL points total may not appear impressive, he still amassed a respectable 135 points thanks to bonus points for saves and has room to grow at just 24 years old.
- Edouard Mendy | Chelsea
Mendy played his second season at Chelsea without making any major blunders, although he was still a safe bet between the posts for Thomas Tuchel’s side.
If the Blues can complete a few key signings in 2022-23, they’ll be expected to mount a stronger challenge for the championship. With his potential for clean sheets among the best in the league, Mendy’s assistance may be crucial to their prospects.
Conclusion
Goalkeepers are often the unsung heroes of any fantasy football team. They can be the difference between winning and losing and are usually overlooked when it comes to putting together a squad.
So there you have it, the best Premier League fantasy football goalkeepers for the upcoming 2022-23 season. Keep an eye out for these players if you want to give yourself the best chance of success in your fantasy football league.
Which of these goalkeepers do you think will be the most important player for their team next season? Let us know in the comments below.