Clean sheets are crucial and there have been plenty of match-saving goalkeepers to have played in the Premier League – but who is the greatest?
How to judge the Premier League’s greatest goalkeeper?
Goalkeepers in the past had to be good with only their hands, keeping the ball out of the net, but there is a growing emphasise on outfield skills too.
“The goalkeeping position has evolved massively,” says Lineker. “They have become more part of the football team because they have to play with their feet.”
Shearer said: “When we started out, the goalkeeper had to keep the ball out of the goal, that was his job. Now he has got to be able to play.”
Asked if he studied goalkeepers before going into games, Wright said: “Definitely. For example, I knew former Coventry goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic always liked to pat the ball down and then catch it so any shot that went in he used to do that. Anything that was coming in, I would just go in for.”