Although he's become a highly criticised player since moving to Liverpool (and forced out of the Belgium first team by the rise of Thibaut Courtois), Simon Mignolet was Sunderland's most solid goalkeeper since Thomas Sorensen. Far from being merely a good shot-stopper, he also commanded his area well and set off counter attacks with his distribution. Unfortunately it was only a matter of time before a bigger team came calling. Best Moment: Mignolet's staggering performance in Paolo Di Canio's first (and only) Tyne/Wear derby was the microcosm of an excellent 2012/13 season. The Belgian goalkeeper kept out a pair of close range efforts from the dangerous Papiss Cisse, and his stability at the back allowed Sunderland to go in search of a famous victory. The 3-0 scoreline masked a deceptively close game, one which Mignolet played a crucial role in.
