5 of the Premier League's best ever goalkeepers (videos)

'You have to be slightly mad to be a goalkeeper' is often being blasted around by many different commentators despite not having much meaning to it. Sure, you take a lot of stick for conceding goals or failing to collecting a ball from a set piece of a cross, but there are many perks to being a goalkeeper.

For one, you don't spend the 90 minutes running around the pitch, surely that is the best part? Second of all, goalkeepers are not expecting to make more than 4 or 5 saves during any single match, meaning that they are often the hero when they have a decent game, something with can't be said with many other roles. Also, if you're an established keeper you can expect much more game time than those outfield colleagues as the number one name on the manager's team sheet is... well, is the number one.

They say all the top teams have top goalkeepers, and the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea have all certainly had them. Even Manchester City's league title was partly down to their keeper Joe Hart. That could even be why Arsenal haven't won a trophy for so long...

Before we look at the 5 greatest shot-stoppers from the Premier League era, here is an honourable mention to the flying Dutchman Edwin van der Sar who didn't make the final cut.

Enjoy.

>> Start <<