Horníček tops the charts as Donnarumma chases and Alisson sits 12th in early 26/27 keeper rankings
The new Premier League season has barely rubbed the sleep from its eyes and already the goalkeeping pecking order is taking shape. It’s been a bumpy start for a few big names, none more so than Manchester United’s Senne Lammens, who’s looked jittery after that World Cup clanger for Belgium. Meanwhile, at the other end of the street, Newcastle’s Lukas Horníček has burst out the traps like a seasoned No 1.
To cut through the hot takes, we’ve leaned on one of the clearest yardsticks for shot-stoppers: goals prevented. Strip away the noise, and you see who’s actually keeping the ball out when they’ve little right to.
How we’re judging it
Goals prevented compares the quality of shots a keeper faces with the goals they actually concede. Positive is good (you’re saving your side), negative is bad (more are slipping past than the data expects). Simple enough, and a fair snapshot this early on.
Places 20 to 11: heavyweight stumbles and early nerves
20) Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace): -1.5; 19) Antonín Kinský (Tottenham): -1.2; 18) Bernd Leno (Fulham): -1.1; 17) Carl Rushworth (Coventry City): -0.7; 16) David Raya (Arsenal): -0.6; 15) Bart Verbruggen (Brighton): -0.5; 14) Senne Lammens (Manchester United): -0.5; 13) Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest): -0.4; 12) Alisson (Liverpool): -0.4; 11) Robin Roefs (Sunderland): -0.3.
Plenty of stories here. Lammens has shipped two in each of United’s first three league outings and looks like a lad searching for rhythm. Raya hasn’t quite settled under the lights at Arsenal either. And yes, you’re reading it right: Alisson is only 12th for now — not a crisis at Anfield by any stretch, but it tells you Liverpool’s No 1 hasn’t had his usual superhuman start.
The top 10: form horses between the sticks
10) James Trafford (Leeds United): -0.2; 9) Zion Suzuki (Aston Villa): 0.0; 8) Kjell Scherpen (Ipswich Town): 0.0; 7) Emiliano Martínez (Chelsea): 0.6; 6) Caoimhín Kelleher (Brentford): 0.7; 5) Jordan Pickford (Everton): 0.8; 4) Đorđe Petrović (Bournemouth): 0.8; 3) Konstantinos Tzolakis (Hull City): 2.0; 2) Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City): 2.5; 1) Lukas Horníček (Newcastle United): 2.9.
Trafford has justified the move for minutes at Leeds — a couple conceded, but he’s bailed them out more than once. Suzuki hasn’t blinked at Villa despite the pressure of replacing Emi Martínez. Scherpen may have worn a few at Old Trafford and been beaten twice by Alexander Isak afterwards, but he’s still keeping Ipswich’s head above water by the numbers.
Martínez’s switch to Chelsea under Xabi Alonso already looks shrewd, even if one or two have squirmed past him. Kelleher, freed from the understudy role at Liverpool, looks a snug fit at Brentford. Pickford? Same old story — big saves, bigger presence, and Everton leaning on him like a sturdy pub table on derby day. Petrović keeps making a mockery of those who doubted him, turning Bournemouth’s box into a no-fly zone.
As for the podium, it’s eye-catching: Horníček (2.9) leads the lot, Donnarumma (2.5) lurks ominously, and Tzolakis (2.0) has Hull unbeaten and unbreached. That’s a trio saving points for fun — the Toon’s new man has already paid a chunk of his fee back in sheer calm, City’s giant is doing giant things, and Hull’s unit looks a bargain who’s making a mockery of those pre-season doom-mongers.
Lammens’ wobble and Alisson’s slow burn
United’s Belgian will know the numbers aren’t flattering, but this is where strong characters earn their corn. Three games don’t define a season — they set a challenge. At Liverpool, Alisson tends to grow into campaigns; being 12th with a negative tilt is a nudge rather than a red flag for a keeper of his class.
What it means for the weeks ahead
Expect churn. Early rankings are a snapshot, not a verdict, and one blustery afternoon can shuffle the deck. If you’re the punting type sizing up clean-sheet markets on the best betting sites, these numbers are your compass — just remember the winds change quickly in this league.
Statistics courtesy of FotMob. Correct as of 07-09-26.
