Southampton boss Nathan Jones has been quoted as saying that Newcastle stopper Nick Pope is the “best goalkeeper in the Premier League” – after the England star helped the Toon win their Carabao Cup semi-final on the south coast.
Pope, 30, is in the form of his life. Clocking up 24 appearances in all competitions for Eddie Howe’s side, he has kept an enormous 16 clean sheets. He picked up his 16th on Tuesday night, as Newcastle beat Southampton in the first leg.
It was Joelinton that finally scored the only goal of the game after 73 minutes. Brilliant work from club-record signing Alex Isak on the right flank saw him roll the ball along the six-yard box. Joelinton was there to tap the ball into the net.
It came after Joelinton had a goal disallowed for a hand ball in the first half, and then missed a sitter on 52 minutes. Pope, meanwhile, continued his brilliant form with a number of saves – including his stop from Che Adams, one on one.
Shields Gazette reporter Miles Starforth took to Twitter following the first-leg Carabao Cup semi-final win. He posted that Southampton boss Jones said that £10m man Pope is “categorically the best goalkeeper in the Premier League”.
Jones says Newcastle stopper Pope is best in the Premier League now
What a signing he has been for Newcastle. Sven Botman and Bruno Guimaraes has been superb. Kieran Trippier seems to be getting better with age. Isak produced a moment of magic for Joelinton’s goal. Dan Burn is incredibly underrated.
But in terms of value for money and the form he is showing, Pope has got to be Newcastle’s best addition since the takeover. Simply, unbeatable. He has now kept a consecutive nine clean sheets. That is an utterly ridiculous Pope stat.
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