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Each week, following the Premier League fixtures, BBC football analyst Troy Deeney will present his Team and Manager of the Week.

Below are Deeney’s selections for this week. Do you concur? Share your opinions in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

Caoimhin Kelleher (Brentford): He recorded a clean sheet against Sunderland and is establishing himself as a reliable first-choice goalkeeper. He’s demonstrating a commanding presence in the area, which is crucial. Of course, saving a penalty is always a significant boost.

Michael Keane (Everton): A player the club attempted to offload, to replace, and move on from, yet he consistently resists. He continues to score and contribute effectively. It seems he’s become genuinely comfortable and confident.

Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool): This performance was a classic Konate display. Beyond his known physical prowess, he actively supported his teammates. His defense of Conor Bradley after Gabriel Martinelli’s unsportsmanlike shove was commendable. He was physically present, reliable, and stood firm.

Max Alleyne (Manchester City): The young player performed exceptionally well against a formidable Brighton side. He displayed constant readiness and even had a scoring opportunity. His composed demeanor, coupled with Pep Guardiola’s trust in starting him, speaks volumes.

Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool): He was the standout player on the field. While others may be mentioned, Szoboszlai’s comprehensive performance was undeniable. He executed the less glamorous, yet essential tasks, while also serving as a key attacking outlet for Liverpool, besides Jeremie Frimpong. He dictated the tempo, delivering an exceptional performance.

Joelinton (Newcastle): He’s a force to be reckoned with. His transformation, facilitated by Eddie Howe, is remarkable. He consistently contributes crucial goals, despite initially being signed as a striker. Now, he’s a dominant midfielder who overpowers opponents.

Brenden Aaronson (Leeds): He scored twice, although he was responsible for the handball – a consequence of not bravely facing the ball. His two goals have won over the Leeds supporters. He’s enjoying a strong season and has endured some unwarranted criticism from Leeds fans.

Ferdi Kadioglu (Brighton): He consistently troubled Nathan Ake throughout the match. On another occasion, he might have been fortunate enough to score a goal or two; his performance was outstanding. Brighton displayed no fear against Manchester City.

Harvey Barnes (Newcastle): He scored two goals, including the decisive match-winner, which ignited passionate celebrations. He’s another player who evokes a sense of untapped potential. There’s always the feeling that he could offer more, which isn’t to diminish the importance of his goals.

Igor Thiago (Brentford): He has scored sixteen goals this season. As we discussed last week, he is in excellent form. He scored again, carrying Brentford forward. As long as he stays fit and maintains his current level, they have a genuine opportunity.

Benjamin Sesko (Manchester United): He endured a difficult start to his Manchester United career. However, he scored two goals against Burnley, and credit is due.

Keith Andrews (Brentford): Brentford’s 3-0 victory over Sunderland was a significant result. At the beginning of the season, many questioned Keith’s suitability for the role and whether Brentford could remain in the league.

Despite his inexperience and squad depletion, they are now progressing towards European qualification. It’s remarkable. Sunderland have performed well, and I anticipated them to withstand Brentford’s physicality, but Brentford dominated them physically.

Do you agree with Troy’s selections? Who would feature in your Team of the Week? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Each week, BBC football analyst Troy Deeney will present his Premier League team and manager of the week.

Here are Deeney’s selections for this week. Do you concur? Share your selections in the comments section below.

Bart Verbruggen (Brighton): Verbruggen’s four or five crucial saves kept Brighton in the draw against West Ham. West Ham could have easily won, but Verbruggen’s exceptional performance was a key reason Brighton secured a point.

Matty Cash (Aston Villa): Cash scored a wonderful goal and defended brilliantly as Aston Villa defeated Arsenal. It pains me to commend him as a Birmingham fan, but he was outstanding, as was Aston Villa. While many anticipate Arsenal winning the league, Aston Villa emphatically said, “Not on our watch.”

Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace): Guehi led by example as his team secured a win at Fulham. Considering his consistent excellence and this weekend’s performance, I wonder how much Liverpool would benefit from signing him. With a solid centre-half like Guehi, how formidable could Liverpool be?

Marco Senesi (Bournemouth): Bournemouth’s ability to find quality players continues to impress. Despite selling two centre-halves in the summer, Senesi seamlessly stepped in and has been consistently excellent, including in the shutout against Chelsea.

Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle): I’m positioning Guimaraes at the base of a midfield diamond because he embodies the heart, soul, and spirit of Newcastle’s team, and he shone once again against Burnley. He’s simply an exceptional football player, a rare compliment these days.

Anton Stach (Leeds): Stach stood out for Leeds in their draw with Liverpool. While Liverpool appeared comfortable, Stach elevated his game significantly, scoring a goal and providing an assist.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Everton): Could he be the signing of the season? He’s been superb, not only scoring but also orchestrating play and becoming the heartbeat of David Moyes’ revitalized Everton team, as demonstrated against Nottingham Forest.

Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United): Fernandes takes the top spot in the diamond. He scored twice at Wolves and provided an assist, showcasing fantastic passing. While it was against a struggling Wolves team, his performance was impressive, and Manchester United are back to winning ways.

Xavi Simons (Tottenham): After a challenging period at Spurs, this felt like Simons’ opportunity to display his talent. His pace, power, and ability to glide past opponents were evident. While such players were once considered luxuries, Simons’ match-winning performance against Brentford proves his quality.

Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool): Despite playing for a struggling team, Ekitike excels through the middle. He scored two goals against Leeds. While Liverpool invested heavily in Alexander Isak, who I admire, starting Ekitike alongside him could be a solution.

Rayan Cherki (Manchester City) Cherki is my favorite player to watch in world football. His assist for Phil Foden in the win against Sunderland was worth the price of admission, and his overall play was delightful. He reminds me of the cult heroes I admired growing up, like Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Thierry Henry, and Jay-Jay Okocha. Cherki is a fantastic talent.

Unai Emery (Aston Villa): This was a significant game for Aston Villa, where Emery could say to Arsenal, “Remember me? You got rid of me.” Considering all factors, Emery is my manager of the week.

Do you agree with Troy’s selections? Who would be in your team of the week? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Hugo Ekitike

With Liverpool and Mohamed Salah potentially heading in different directions – and Salah joining his Egypt teammates for the Africa Cup of Nations next week – the Reds need other players to step up and compensate for Salah’s absence in scoring. Hugo Ekitike may be the answer.

Ekitike now leads Liverpool in Premier League scoring with five goals, and also tops the charts in all competitions with eight. On Saturday at Elland Road, the Frenchman scored his first Liverpool double, becoming the first Premier League player to score twice in the opening five minutes of the second half since Raheem Sterling for Manchester City against Watford in March 2019.

He led the match in shots (5), shots on target (3), and touches in the opposition box (9). The only disappointment was the scoreline – he was the first Liverpool player to score two goals in a Premier League game and not win since Salah in a 3-3 draw with Newcastle last December.

Rayan Cherki

Despite playing only 398 minutes in the Premier League this season, Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki leads the league in assists with five, including two in the 3-0 victory over Sunderland.

Cherki created six chances in open play, the joint-most by any player in a Premier League game this season. At 22 years and 111 days old on Saturday, he was the second-youngest Manchester City player to achieve this in a Premier League game, older only than Mario Balotelli in February 2012 against Blackburn Rovers.

Among players with at least 300 minutes played in the Premier League, Cherki leads the league in chances created per 90 minutes (3.4) and ranks among the top five in touches in the opposition box per 90 minutes (7.7). The Frenchman is currently assisting a goal every 80 minutes on average – also a league best.

Bruno Guimaraes

Bruno Guimaraes has taken 10 corners in the Premier League this season, and his in-swinging delivery against Burnley that caught his former teammate Martin Dubravka off guard stands out as the most memorable.

While not the first Premier League goal scored directly from a corner (or ‘Olympico goal’ as it’s known), it was Newcastle’s first-ever Premier League goal scored directly from a corner, giving Guimaraes a place in Magpies history. Given that the term Olympico goal originates from South America, it is fitting that four of the last seven goals scored directly from corners have been scored by players from that continent – all from Brazil: Matheus Pereira, Douglas Luiz, Matheus Cunha and Guimaraes.

Apart from scoring directly from corners, Guimaraes has been in excellent form recently, with four goals and two assists in his last nine Premier League appearances, and five goals in total this season. He has only scored more in one season: 2023-24, with seven goals.

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Following each round of Premier League fixtures this season, BBC football analyst Troy Deeney will present his team and manager of the week.

Here are his selections for this week. Do you concur? Share your opinions using the comments section at the end of this page.

Robin Roefs (Sunderland): While he may not have been called upon to make a multitude of spectacular saves, he delivered in crucial moments. A significant performance for Sunderland in their away match against Chelsea. These are the contests where key players must rise to the occasion, and I felt he was instrumental for them during pivotal periods.

Matty Cash (Aston Villa): He could have easily made the list last week. He excelled once again, scoring a superb winning goal. I also thought he was defensively sound, an area he isn’t typically known for. Tasked with marking Savinho, Phil Foden, and Jeremy Doku, he performed admirably. That decisive goal secures his place.

Joe Rodon (Leeds): He was an absolute rock. A fantastic header for his goal, but more importantly, he withstood intense pressure in a crucial game against West Ham at Elland Road on Friday. In such matches, dominance is key. He has adapted well, found his footing, and demonstrated his ability to perform at a high level.

Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa): In my view, he was the man of the match; his performance was outstanding. Solid, with several astute plays. In the first half, he strategically positioned his leg to thwart Erling Haaland’s clear path to goal. In the second half, his timely intervention again denied Haaland a breakthrough. Excellent defending and commanding presence. I thought he was fantastic.

Micky van de Ven (Tottenham): Any centre-back who maintains a clean sheet and scores two goals warrants inclusion in the team. I considered Gabriel, but Van de Ven’s performance was particularly noteworthy in a game where I anticipated Spurs might struggle. After a couple of subpar weeks, this victory is significant for them.

Quilindschy Hartman (Burnley): Two assists in a crucial match for Burnley, securing a monumental win at Wolves. In my opinion, this result effectively relegates Wolves. Two assists are a fantastic achievement in a week marked by questionable decisions and unexpected outcomes. Burnley’s result is the standout of the weekend. Many may overlook it, focusing on the top teams, but it’s a massive result for Burnley.

Brenden Aaronson (Leeds): Including him is a bold decision. There were calls for him to be dropped. He scored the opening goal, having missed opportunities in previous weeks, but delivered a commanding performance. He stepped up and took the initiative, declaring “I’m going to be the difference maker today.” He demonstrated why he deserves a place in that Leeds team.

Granit Xhaka (Sunderland): Many will focus on the new signings and young players at Sunderland. However, Xhaka is the leader on that pitch. He organizes, tackles, and directs others to cover ground for him. He reminds me of John Terry’s role at Chelsea towards the end of his career. He operates at a higher level than everyone else. His passing is precise, and he executes everything flawlessly. For me, he was exceptional.

Bryan Mbeumo (Manchester United): I considered Matheus Cunha, but Mbeumo scored the second goal. He has clearly found his rhythm, is comfortable, and the pressure of playing at Manchester United doesn’t faze him. He and Cunha are the driving force behind their ascent up the league table. Both are talented and exceptional. Mbeumo’s two goals were magnificent. When the game became tense towards the end, the opportunity fell to him, and no one doubted he would score. Huge for him, huge for Manchester United.

Wilson Isidor (Sunderland): He has adapted to the Premier League far better than I anticipated. I honestly thought he would struggle. He didn’t particularly impress in the Championship, scoring only 13 goals, which is underwhelming considering the team’s promotion. He’s also somewhat ungainly and unrefined, but he has performed admirably in the Premier League. Perhaps the step up in competition has forced him to elevate his game.

Zian Flemming (Burnley): Two goals in a must-win game. He was excellent, leading the line effectively. His hold-up play was good, but scoring goals is paramount. It’s a significant boost for Burnley to have a reliable goalscorer.

Keith Andrews (Brentford): An incredible win against Liverpool. Keith is defying expectations, playing to his strengths, and challenging these top teams. I thought he was very effective, and his tactical decisions were astute.

Zian Flemming

Molineux played host to a captivating match over the weekend, with bottom-ranked Wolves suffering a dramatic defeat to newly promoted Burnley.

The visitors appeared to be cruising to victory when Zian Flemming scored twice within the opening 30 minutes, making him the first Burnley player to score more than once in a Premier League away game since Maxwel Cornet against Southampton in October 2021.

Both of Flemming’s goals were assisted by Quilindschy Hartman, marking the first time one Burnley player had assisted another twice or more in a Premier League game since April 2021, when Dwight McNeil twice assisted Chris Wood – also at Wolves.

Wolves mounted a comeback and equalized, but the Clarets ultimately secured the points thanks to Flemming’s impressive overall performance, which included three shots on target, six touches in the opposition box, and 14 duels won.

Bryan Mbeumo

Manchester United’s resurgence gained further momentum against Brighton on Saturday, with Ruben Amorim’s improving side securing an impressive 4-2 victory.

Summer signing Bryan Mbeumo has been a standout performer for the Red Devils this season, and he delivered once again against the Seagulls.

His two goals increased his tally of top-flight goal involvements against Brighton to eight (five goals, three assists), his joint-best return against any side.

On Saturday, Mbeumo recorded team highs for both shots on target (three) and chances created (two, the joint-most).

Overall this season, the former Brentford man leads the way for United in the league in terms of goals (four), shots (23), and goal involvements (five), while only Bruno Fernandes has created more chances (24 to Mbeumo’s 16).

Indeed, since the start of last season, only Mohamed Salah (52) and Erling Haaland (37) have registered more Premier League goal involvements than the Cameroon forward (32).

Micky van de Ven

Thomas Frank has enjoyed an impressive start to his tenure in north London and oversaw yet another good away win at the weekend.

The star of the show against Everton was Micky van de Ven, with the Spurs captain becoming the first defender to score twice in a Premier League game for the club since Jan Vertonghen in March 2013, who also did so on Merseyside against Liverpool.

Overall, the Dutchman topped the game rankings for passes (71), accurate passes (63), touches (86), and interceptions (3) on the way to a well-earned clean sheet.

This season, Van de Ven tops his club’s rankings for passes (542), accurate passes (500), and headed clearances (24), while his importance to Tottenham is also highlighted by their 50% win rate when he starts in the Premier League, compared to 32% when he doesn’t.

Do you agree with Troy’s selections? Who would be in your team of the week? Share your thoughts in the comments section below:

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The Premier League has returned, and so has Troy Deeney’s team of the week.

Here are his selections following the initial round of fixtures. Do you concur? Share your opinions using the comments section at the bottom of this page.

David Raya (Arsenal): He made eight saves against Manchester United. The one diving to his left was exceptional – had that gone in, it would have altered the game’s trajectory. He’s poised to be a cornerstone for Arsenal.

Rico Lewis (Manchester City): I’ve actually selected both full-backs from Manchester City. I felt Lewis and Rayan Ait-Nouri were outstanding. They contributed significantly in attack and were defensively sound. Lewis provided that excellent assist for Erling Haaland.

Rayan Ait-Nouri (Manchester City): Ait-Nouri managed the game brilliantly against his former club. He was defensively secure and offered a great deal going forward. They seem to have found a solution at left-back, a position they’ve struggled with for quite some time.

William Saliba (Arsenal): Saliba delivered a robust performance against Manchester United. Securing a 1-0 victory despite United appearing to be the stronger side underscores that Saliba is the bedrock of that defense. He was faultless and displayed his quality once more. Arsenal need to achieve success this season if they want to retain his services.

Dan Ballard (Sunderland): I was present at the Championship semi-final when he scored the goal that propelled them into the final, and he ignited the atmosphere. I can only imagine his emotions after scoring his first Premier League goal. The stadium must have erupted, and he was excellent overall.

Ethan Ampadu (Leeds United): In the holding midfield role, Ampadu was superb. He executed a particularly fierce tackle, and it seemed he might have injured his ankle, but he was exceptional. He epitomized leadership, winning headers, making tackles, and displaying aggressive forward passing – he was the catalyst for Leeds’ victory.

Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest): Alongside Ampadu is Anderson. That through ball alone merits his inclusion in the team. He’s emerging as a dark horse for a potential England squad place for the World Cup. While some might have considered Forest’s performance last year a fluke, he was the driving force against Brentford. The pass to Chris Wood was perfectly weighted; many players would have rushed and cleared the ball, but he executed the pass flawlessly.

Tijjani Reijnders (Manchester City): Reijnders delivered the standout performance of the weekend. Many unfamiliar with Serie A might not know much about him, but he was fantastic for AC Milan. Pep asked him to play slightly deeper than his natural number 10 position, and I thought he excelled. His flick for Lewis showcased his quality, and his deft touch to evade two players highlighted not only his physical resilience but also his creativity. His finish was exquisite – simply passing it into the corner.

Mohammed Kudus (Tottenham): Up front, Kudus was excellent for Spurs on the right flank. He appears rejuvenated. He’s joined a Spurs team that needs him to perform well, and it seems he’ll thrive exceptionally within this setup.

Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth): Semenyo scored twice for Bournemouth, and he served as an exemplary model for young players – or any player, for that matter – when confronted with negativity or adversity. He brought the situation to the referee’s attention, and subsequently, his stature grew, demonstrating true character. He scored two goals and, unfortunately, wasn’t on the winning team, but his conduct made him a winner.

Richarlison (Tottenham): In the central role, I could have opted for Wood (Nottingham Forest) but chose not to, and I could have selected Haaland (Manchester City) but decided against it. I chose to go with Richarlison at Tottenham. He endured a challenging start due to injuries, but Thomas Frank decided to start him over Dominic Solanke, and Richarlison rewarded him with two wonderful goals. His link-up play was exceptional, and his runs in behind were excellent. It’s a World Cup year, and this could be the catalyst for him to truly excel.

Regis le Bris (Sunderland): Excellent, truly excellent performance. I believe he’s been remarkably astute in the transfer window, bringing in a wealth of talent. The game plan against West Ham was fantastic, very pragmatic. A significant victory.

Richarlison

Last season was a difficult one for Richarlison at Spurs, missing long periods with injury. He has hit the ground running in 2025-26, though it was time spent off the ground that was most impressive about his opening day against Burnley – scoring a superb bicycle kick, one of two goals he netted on Saturday.

It was the Brazilian’s first Premier League double since scoring two against former side Everton in February 2024, while he’s the first Spurs player to score two on opening day since Harry Kane in 2019-20 – a season Kane ended with 18 Premier League goals. The same for Richarlison in 2025-26 would be very well received by Spurs supporters. Just eight more doubles to go…

Tijjani Reijnders

It was an incredibly impressive debut for midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, who became the first player to score and assist on his Premier League debut while playing for Manchester City since Sergio Aguero in August 2011. Perhaps surprisingly, it’s only the second time in 179 top-flight appearances in his career that he’s achieved that feat.

Only Erling Haaland had both more shots and more touches in the opposition box against Wolves than Reijnders (3 shots, 5 touches in box), while only Nico Gonzalez made more successful final third passes than the Dutchman (20). A standout debut to build on – and no City player has ever scored and assisted in each of their first two appearances before.

Virgil van Dijk

Reigning champions Liverpool got their season off to a winning start against Bournemouth and – in a game they scored four goals – their standout player was captain Virgil van Dijk.

In what was his 235th Premier League appearance for the club, Van Dijk posted his best totals for both clearances (17) and headed clearances (14), and his joint-best for aerial duels won (12). He was the first player to post all those totals in a single Premier League match since Jan Vertonghen in December 2016, and the only Liverpool player Opta has on record to do so.

He may have turned 34 over the summer, but Van Dijk is still a colossus for the Reds.

Do you agree with Troy’s selections? Who would be in your Team of the Week? Have your say using the comments form below:

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