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WATCH: Simon Mignolet is actually being compared to David De Gea after stunning save

Published 08:03 29 Apr 2016 BST

Conan Doherty
WATCH: Simon Mignolet is actually being compared to David De Gea after stunning save

Homesport

Alright, it was a very good save but let's not get carried - oh, too late for that.

Simon Mignolet and David De Gea. Two names that naturally go side by side with one another, there's just no getting away from it. One is a player of the year. The other? Actually, both are players of the year. https://twitter.com/TheAnfieldChat/status/597878718573486081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw The Liverpool goalkeeper was earning all sorts of plaudits on Thursday night after his display in Villarreal. It's becoming like clockwork for him now. Drop a clanger on Saturday, get written off by fans. Produce magic five days later, get compared to the best goalkeeper on the planet. David De Gea, at present, is above all of his peers. The Spaniard might still be in the Manuel Neuer shadow, depending on what angle you look at it, but the world shouldn't be afraid to embrace the Manchester United stopper as the best in the game right now. Manchester United v Crystal Palace - Premier League His brain, his athleticism, his Matrix-like reflexes in the last line of defence have raised the bar for goalkeepers everywhere, almost in Messi and Ronaldo proportions when they started to make a laughing stock of the goal every two games ratio. Now, when you see a 'keeper concede, you think to yourself instantly, would David De Gea have saved that? The answer is usually yes. When you see a 'keeper not moving as quickly or as strongly as you'd like, you think to yourself instantly how De Gea might be springing across that line. And, apparently, when you see Simon Mignolet deliver the goods, you think to yourself instantly, that's David De Gea in disguise. https://twitter.com/LewisWynn1999/status/725789186138214404 There was late heartbreak for Jurgen Klopp's side in Villarreal when they leaked a goal in injury time to take a 1-0 Europa League semi-final deficit back to Anfield with them. It could've been worse though if it wasn't for David De Gea Simon Mignolet. Late in the game, Kolo Toure and Dejan Lovren parted like the red sea to allow Cédric Bakambu to stroll right through the middle of the 'Pool defence, pull up a chair, sip on a cup of tea, and take a clear shot at Mignolet's goals. The Belgian reacted.
And the internet reacted. Probably not exactly how you would expect though. Football Manager legend or actual legend? https://twitter.com/Kloppinhoo/status/725934228282576896 It wasn't even a debate for some people. https://twitter.com/MasaiLincoln/status/725789001970515970 Even the experts started weighing in. And David James. https://twitter.com/darrylhender/status/725757132059103233 Soon, United fans began pining for Mignolet. https://twitter.com/SemperFiUnited/status/725768412954120192 World class, you might say. WC1 World what? WC2 Did you say world class? WC3 At least De Gea is becoming a verb though. https://twitter.com/iMajorX/status/725789402790678528 We'll get our coats then... https://twitter.com/Brianzy24/status/725764499844784129 Click snap