Every football fan around the world loves a spectacular goal, but there’s something truly special about an out-of-this-world save.
The Premier League is home to some of the game’s best goalkeepers and the first month of the 2022/23 season proved just how good some of them can be. A number of top stops were made, with a select eight making the shortlist for Castrol Save of the Month.
Here’s the eight contenders for August’s award.
Another month, another round of incredible saves from the best keepers in the world! 😍 Here are the nominees for the August @premierleague Castrol Save of the Month… pic.twitter.com/ocS71QUceq
— Castrol (@Castrol) September 8, 2022
Leander Dendoncker was determined to score on the opening day of the season against Leeds, but Illan Meslier had other ideas.
The Frenchman pulled out a great reflex save to tip over the Belgian’s header from a corner, but his best effort came shortly before half-time, getting down low to keep Dendoncker’s strike out from six yards.
Both moments would prove to be crucial as Leeds turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 victory.
Leeds would have had another goal to celebrate, had it not been for some heroics from Jose Sa in the Wolves net.
Patrick Bamford, who set up the decisive go-ahead goal for Leeds, rose highest in the penalty area and had all the time in the world to place his header, but Sa somehow managed to react immediately and got a strong hand to the effort.
Not only did he react, but he managed to push the ball away from goal and set up a routine clearance for a teammate. Crisis averted.
Newcastle’s 0-0 draw with Brighton was pretty much the Nick Pope show.
The summer signing was in the form of his life as he kept Brighton at bay, but his save to repel Adam Lallana’s header was undoubtedly the pick of the bunch.
Lallana did everything he was supposed to, sending the ball back across goal and into the ground to add a devilish bounce, but Pope tracked it every step of the way and got a strong hand to it to claw it away.
Chelsea were on top form when they hosted Tottenham and they would have been celebrating a victory if Kai Havertz could have found a way past Hugo Lloris.
A glorious team move from Chelsea saw Raheem Sterling cut the ball back into the path of Havertz, whose low drive was fierce enough to beat most goalkeepers on another day.
On this day, however, Lloris managed to get a leg out in time to turn the ball around the post.
Emiliano Martinez showed some stunning reflexes to get down and keep out Jordan Ayew when Aston Villa faced Crystal Palace.
The Eagles were flying and Villa needed a hero at the back to keep them alive, and they got exactly that as Martinez flung himself to the ground to claw away Ayew’s strike, even though the ball was already behind him.
Not only the reactions, but the strength of Martinez’s save was unbelievable. Ayew put everything he had behind it but the goalkeeper made light work of the effort.
Aleksandar Mitrovic has been a real handful for Premier League defences this season, but David Raya won one battle with the Serb when Brentford travelled to face Fulham.
Mitrovic connected with a thumping header at the back post and appeared to have the whole goal to aim at, but out of nowhere, Raya came flying over and somehow got himself behind the ball to push it away.
Raya ended up nestled in the back of the net, but if it’s between him or the ball, he’ll take that.
Raheem Sterling scored his first two goals for Chelsea when they hosted Leicester, but Danny Ward was the only reason he wasn’t celebrating a maiden hat-trick.
Sterling’s low effort ended up cannoning back off the woodwork, and replays showed that Ward managed to get down quickly enough to flick a foot out and deflect his shot onto the post.
A save of fine margins, but Ward got them all right.
Harry Kane doesn’t miss a lot of penalties, but Dean Henderson doesn’t concede a lot either. There was a real Irresistible Force vs Immovable Object feel about the pair’s 12-yard battle when Nottingham Forest hosted Tottenham.
Kane sent a thumping effort towards goal but Henderson read it perfectly, diving to his right at full stretch to punch the ball well clear of the goal.
Henderson celebrated like he’d just scored a goal, and deservedly so.
