Wouldn’t Matz Sels simply be the best goalkeeper in England at the moment? The Belgian produced a high-class match against Liverpool.
It took a long time for a spiritual successor to Thibaut Courtois and Simon Mignolet to remind the Premier League that Belgium is a country of goalkeepers. But since his signing last year, and especially since this season, Matz Sels (32 years old) lives up to his illustrious predecessors.
This Tuesday saw an unexpected summit match as Nottingham Forest, 2nd in the Premier League, hosted leader Liverpool. Unsurprisingly, the Reds dominated the match, with 70% ball possession and a total of 23 shots including 7 on target (compared to 6 including 3 on target for Nottingham).
If Liverpool only found the net once, in the 66th minute, and settled for a draw (1-1), it was thanks to a new managerial performance from Matz Sels, author of 6 stops. The entire internet has paid tribute to him and the Red Devil is quite simply hailed as one of, if not the best goalkeeper in the Premier League this season.
It’s even statistical: Sels is the leader in the clean-sheet ranking this season. And with 3 saves made in his rectangle, but also a precise kick recovery (9 successful long balls), the Nottingham Forest goalkeeper is particularly complete.
By displaying such a level of play, one comes to wonder how Matz Sels could not be the number 1 choice of Domenico Tedesco or, more probably, of his successor next March for the double duel against Ukraine. It was already surprising that Koen Casteels was preferred last November, and the former La Gantoise and Anderlecht man is even more impressive today…
