Goalkeepers' Union

Very rarely does a goalkeeper make four assists across an entire career. Ederson has achieved it this season alone.

The Brazilian racked up his goal-providing quad in Man City's 5-2 win over Crystal Palace, marking this as the most successful-ever season for assists from goalkeepers in a single Premier League campaign.

Fellow Brazilian Alisson returned for Liverpool to remind everyone why he's the best in the world in a 2-1 triumph of West Ham, while all manner of questions continue to be raised over the goalkeeping dilemma facing Manchester United.

In the EFL, pro debuts were made by Luke Hutchinson (Crawley, on loan from Bolton) and Taite Holtam (Gillingham), Sam Tickle reached 100 career appearances at Wigan and Luke McGee played a huge role in Tranmere's remarkable comeback in a League Two basement battle at Accrington.

Richard Lee returns to the fold to talk about the steadiness of Bernd Leno as a Premier League goalkeeper, the bit-between-his-teethness of Dean Henderson and 100 in succession for Jordan Pickford.

In the Championship, Karl Darlow was finally given the nod ahead of Illan Meslier as Leeds were held at Luton, while Max Crocombe was the subject of a dubious penalty awarded to Wrexham and Wyll Stanway bagged an MOM in a rare start for Barrow.

A nod to Andy Fisher and Rohan Luthra, too, as both excelled on loans at St Johnstone and Spennymoor respectively.

Everton goalkeeper Asmir Begovic makes his return to the GKU starting lineup to talk all things The Toffees, FA Cup Quarter Finals and goalkeeping goodness from the EFL.

We touch on his close relationship with Jordan Pickford, what the immediate future holds for Illan Meslier at Leeds and teammate Harry Tyrer's loan spell with Blackpool.

Father and son goalkeepers. How many can you name? Let us know any who pop out via all the usual channels.

In addition to that, plenty of goalkeeping analysis to dive into this week.

Joe Hart and Shay Given both stood up for stoppers as they ran the rule over performances from Dean Henderson, Ederson and David Raya against Ipswich, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United respectively.

Meanwhile, Robert Sanchez returned for Chelsea, Robin Olsen kept his first Premier League clean sheet since New Year's Day of 2023 and Kepa committed the cardinal sin of conceding one of "those" penalties.

In the EFL, Save of the Weekend contenders go to George Wickens, Jay Lynch and Paul Farman.

So, the eight-second ruling as imposed on goalkeepers by IFAB is due to finally come into effect as of next season.

Following yet another trial during the Club World Cup over the summer, it's possible referees will award corners to opposing teams should goalkeepers fail to release the ball after eight seconds. Let's see how it plays out.

Meanwhile, penalty shootouts took centre stage in the FA Cup and FA Trophy at the weekend. Bernd Leno the hero for Fulham at Manchester United. Will Jaaskelainen saved three and scored the decisive spot-kick for Woking in their quarter-final tie at Oxford City.

On the flip side of heroism, Liam Roberts was very much seen as the villain after seeing red for his challenge on Jean-Phillipe Mateta in Millwall's defeat to Crystal Palace. We discuss the incident and comments made by Palace Chairman, Steve Parish, after the game.

It's fair to say the narrative surrounding Chelsea goalkeepers has not been particularly positive in recent seasons. Aston Villa's winner in their defeat of The Blues won't have helped that cause as Filip Jorgensen allowed Marco Asensio's effort to squirm under his body at the weekend.

We discuss that moment, in addition to the art of combating the "dinker". Aaron Ramsdale was twice beaten by deft finishes in Southampton's 4-0 loss to Brighton, so is it purely down to unbeatable striking excellence - or is there a way to thwart those pesky frontmen in such a scenario?

In the EFL, Illan Meslier made headlines yet again for his part in a monumental Leeds triumph over Sheffield United, Jamie Jones and Filip Marschall share the Save of the Weekend contender spoils, and 'Keeper Capers stars Nick Townsend and Ryan Boot of Newport and Chesterfield respectively.

It may not have been a particularly busy transfer window for goalkeepers in the Premier League, but there was still one big move for one English stopper.

Alex Palmer earned a shot at the top flight following his move from West Brom to Ipswich. He started Tier 1 life in fine fashion with a Man of the Match performance on his debut at Aston Villa.

An incredible four klaxons were sounded overall at the weekend. Ederson (a record-breaking sixth in total) was joined by Bart Verbruggen, Mark Howard and Joe Day, while James Trafford racked up an 11th successive clean sheet in nets for Burnley. An astonishing achievement unlikely to be eclipsed any time soon.

Elsewhere in the EFL, Save of the Weekend contenders came from Jamal Blackman, Corey Addai and Gabe Breeze. A truly fine weekend for goalkeeping.

If errors leading to goals are a clear marker of a goalkeeper's game, Robert Sanchez would be in the lower echelons of those performing in this season's Premier League.

The much-maligned Chelsea stopper was at fault for Man City's winner on Saturday, so we look at whether the negative hype is fair or perhaps somewhat exaggerated based on his actions aside from goals conceded.

Elsewhere, Thomas Kaminski stopped a rot of 13 successive penalties conceded by Luton, Hull bagged a third consecutive clean sheet and victory on the road for the first time since March 2011, and Murphy Cooper produced an audacious piece of skill for Stevenage in League One.

What is a howler? That is the question.

'Twas a word which cropped up a fair few times over the weekend. Andre Onana, Robert Sanchez and James Beadle just three of the suspects suspected to have committed the most catastrophic of calamities if reports were to be believed.

In reality, two were errors and one shouldn't have even been discussed as anything other than how it would have and has since been discussed in goalkeeping circles.

We delve into all three, in addition to the heroics of James Trafford's two penalty saves in Burnley's goalless draw at home to Sunderland on Friday night.

Everything comes to he who waits...

That was the case for Brandon Austin who, after spending the best part of 17 years at Totttenham Hotspur, was finally granted his first team debut at the weekend. The soon-to-be 26-year-old acquitted himself well in the defeat to Newcastle, earning the Man of the Match award on TNT Sports and giving Ange Postecoglou something to think about ahead of Wednesday's Carabao Cup clash with Liverpool.

Elsewhere, Matz Sels is perhaps the surprise package of the season in the Premier League. The Belgian leads the way for top-flight clean sheets following his blank in Nottingham Forest's 3-0 win over Wolves.

In the EFL, Illan Meslier is feeling the heat at Leeds, Joe Whitworth provided an assist in Exeter's defeat to Bolton and Ben Amos returned to league action for the first time since April 2023.