Could Brazil Goalkeepers be the Difference in the Premier League Title Race?

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The 2023/24 Premier League title race has been as enthralling as expected, with plenty of twists and turns, exciting games, nail-biting drama and much more.

5 months ago
Arsenal went into the new campaign with a point to prove having allowed Manchester City to overhaul them on the run-in last term. They led the way for most of the 2023/24 campaign but consecutive losses against West Ham United and Fulham have left them five points off top spot.
Aston Villa have emerged as outside contenders for the title - a testament to the fantastic work of manager Unai Emery. The Spaniard has taken a team former boss Steven Gerrard almost dragged into a relegation battle to the upper echelons of the league table. Man City have not been at their best but are in touching distance of the top of the table. They remain favourites, with online bookmakers handing them odds of 1.72 to win the title.
Liverpool are also strong contenders at odds of 3.25 to claim their second Premier League trophy, and they will fancy their chances of getting the job done. While Man City and Liverpool have plenty of attacking talent at their disposal, the key to their respective hopes may well lie at the other end of the pitch.
Brazilian goalkeepers Ederson and Alisson provide their teams with a strong foundation to work from, which makes them an integral part of any betting decisions punters make on the title race. Respected comparison platform BettingTop10 Brasil has loads of useful resources which will help you decide where to wager and which sportsbooks offer the best odds.
This year’s title race could easily be decided by a moment of brilliance by one of the aforementioned Brazilians, so let’s take a closer look before you place any wagers.
Ederson has received critical acclaim for his ball-playing ability, but his shot-stopping does not get enough praise as he has made tremendous improvement over the years. He won the Premier League Golden Glove in 2019/20 and 2020/21. Ederson has been a sturdy last line of defence for the Cityzens, helping them collect every club title available.
He could be a massive difference-maker in the title race. Pep Guardiola's football is based on creating numerical advantages, and the former Benfica star helps his team with this during the build-up phase. Cool as ice under pressure, he acts as a reliable release valve, punching passes through the lines to start attacks. His thunderous long kicks are a secret weapon against teams that push up their defensive line.
Alisson has also established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world since his move to Liverpool in 2018. He has the highest save percentage in the Premier League this season (77.3%) and has prevented 1.8 goals. The former AS Roma man is a safe pair of hands and gives the Reds massive reassurance at the back. Alisson is a proper sweeper-keeper who can mop up leaks behind his team's defensive line. He also has the ball-playing ability to hang with the best.
Manchester United have Andre Onana, Tottenham Hotspur have Guglielmo Vicario and Arsenal have David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale. While these goalkeepers are capable enough, Alisson and Ederson sit in the upper echelon of their craft. None match the consistent brilliance of the Brazilian duo.
Onana has struggled since his move to England from Inter Milan, failing to look convincing and allowing cheap goals. Vicario has looked good for Spurs, although he has made some errors. Ramsdale had several lapses last season that cost Arsenal the league title last season, and the Gunners replaced him with Raya. He has not been much of an improvement.
This only serves to highlight the gap between the Brazilians and their colleagues. Even Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez, who currently holds the prestigious Yacine Trophy, is still a level or two below the Man City and Liverpool goalkeepers. Alisson and Ederson have repeatedly shown they are at the top of their game and can make a difference in the title race.
Ederson's pinpoint distribution dovetails perfectly with Guardiola's tactical precision, while Alisson's towering presence and unmatched saves form the bedrock of Klopp's high-octane system. One of them will likely be the difference in the title race, but predicting which one is an impossible task.

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