A roundup of the top goalkeeper news from between the 10th and 16th of March.
Header Image: Darren Staples / AFP
Donnarumma breaks Liverpool hearts
On Tuesday, PSG travelled to Anfield with what seemed like an impossible task. They had to go there and win within 90 minutes otherwise they were out of the Champions League. After 90 minutes, the game ended 1-0 to the Parisians thanks to Ousmane Dembele meaning the game went to extra time.
Extra time was far from exciting, creating no real chances, sending the tie to a penalty shootout as a result. Up stepped Vitinha first whose penalty did meet the fingertips of Allison but still found its way into the back of the net. The next two penalties were then converted courtesy of Salah and Ramos who both showcased their penalty expertise.
The next penalty was given to Darwin Nunez, whose effort was denied by the intimidating Italian between the sticks. Dembele then scored one of the best penalties seen at Anfield in years, scoring with his weak foot.
Liverpool born and bred, Curtis Jones, then strolled up but his penalty was also denied by Donnarumma, giving Desire Doue the chance to win the tie. Doue with ice in his veins smashed his penalty top bins sending the away fans in front of him into a sea of madness and chaos, and Liverpool were out.
Belgian goalkeeper quits over Courtois national team return
Belgium's Koen Casteels - the goalkeeper who was starting in Thibaut Courtois' absence - has quit the national team in a public spat over Courtois' return to the squad.
Casteels has spoken out about Courtois being allowed back into the Belgium fold of his own decision. Courtois has not played for the Red Devils since June 2023 after a spat with former manager Domenico Tedesco.
In August last year, Courtois reiterated his refusal to play for Belgium while Tedesco was in charge. In his place, Casteels stepped up. But now Rudi Garcia has taken over the national team role, Courtois' has revealed he will rejoin the set up.
'It's strange that the football association has turned 180 degrees and is rolling out the red carpet and welcoming him back with open arms,' he told Belgian podcast MidMid, via the Daily Mail.
'I think it's a bit strange that Courtois can decide for himself whether he can come back.
'It is not so much towards Thibaut, but mainly towards the football association.
'That does not fit in with the standards and values that I have about what a team sport or a sporting organisation should have. As of today, I am no longer available [for the national team].'
Butland saves Rangers in shootout
Despite going into their Europa League second leg tie against Fenerbahçe with a 3-1 lead on aggregate, Rangers completely blew their advantage, and the game ultimately went to a tense penalty shootout in front of the Ibrox faithful. Up stepped Dusan Tadic first, who came face-to-face with Butland. Tadic attempted to put his pen down the middle, but Butland’s diving leg denied him in style.
Rangers then converted their next two, as well as Fenerbahçe scoring their first of the shootout, leaving the score at 2-1 after 2 penalties each. Scores were soon back level as Hagi missed his chance. Had Rangers bottled another lead? Well, Butland showed his worth once again when he denied Fred from the spot. Tom Lawrence then scored putting Rangers in the driving seat which they stayed in as Fenerbahçe missed their next penalty. Rangers had won and it was all thanks to Jack Butland and his penalty expertise!
Onana ‘not good enough’ or ‘overpaid’?
This week, a lot of attention off the pitch has been on Manchester United who revealed their plans to build a new state of the art stadium. Sir Jim Ratcliffe was interviewed by BBC Sport and Gary Neville where he revealed Man Utd’s shocking financial situation but also described some of his current players as ‘not good enough’ and ‘overpaid’.
This comment was in reference to five players: Antony, Sancho, Casemiro, Hojlund, and most importantly, Onana. The comment raised a lot of attention as all these players are still contracted to the Red Devils and some play regularly every week, like Onana.
Kelleher to play in the EFL Cup final?
In the build-up to the EFL Cup final, Arne Slot has hinted at a Caomhin Kelleher start with many people have been wondering if it’s a possibility. During Allison’s injury break at the beginning of the season, Kelleher showed his quality with numerous clean sheets and penalty saves against the like of Kylian Mbappe. So, will Kelleher play once again at Wembley and potentially break black and white hearts?
