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Following each round of Premier League fixtures, BBC football analyst Troy Deeney presents his team and manager of the week.
Here are Deeney’s selections for this week. Do you concur? Share your opinions in the comments section at the end of the page.
Troy Deeney’s Team of the Week
Martin Dubravka (Burnley): Secured a clean sheet despite facing 19 shots in their 2-0 victory over Leeds. Although Leeds had an expected goals (xG) of 2.4, Dubravka’s performance was crucial in a significant match. I anticipated Leeds would dominate, but Burnley’s defensive resilience prevailed.
Reece James (Chelsea): I previously questioned his decision to withdraw from England duty, but he delivered a commanding performance, justifying his choice. He excelled at right-back in the 3-0 win against Forest, showcasing true leadership and scoring a goal. James solidified Chelsea’s defense, particularly after a lackluster first half, and his quality shone through in the second half.
Josh Acheampong (Chelsea): At just 19, he embodies Chelsea’s future at centre-back. While he may eventually leave the starting lineup this season, his composure, ball retention, and efficiency were remarkable. His exceptional performance at such a young age was truly impressive.
Axel Tuanzebe (Burnley): Another standout performer for Burnley, Tuanzebe was formidable against Leeds. I often find it intriguing when teams acquire centre-backs from relegated clubs, especially those with injury histories like Tuanzebe. He has clearly found a home, and Kyle Walker also impressed alongside him.
Harry Maguire (Manchester United): The standout player of the weekend. He was absolutely outstanding in the 2-1 victory over Liverpool. Despite facing numerous criticisms regarding his performances for both England and Manchester United, he delivered a fantastic display. He was a true leader, prioritizing effectiveness over extravagance, which is precisely what you want from a centre-back.
Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City): This young player is flourishing. I initially anticipated Rayan Ait-Nouri’s arrival would shift O’Reilly to midfield, but Ait-Nouri’s injury has allowed him to excel at left-back. His composure is remarkable, and his ability to drive forward and beat opponents is impressive, adding another assist in their 2-0 win over Everton.
Moises Caicedo (Chelsea): I witnessed the Chelsea match firsthand, and Caicedo’s introduction completely transformed the game. He entered at halftime when Chelsea were significantly underperforming, and his presence elevated the entire team. He maintained possession, provided stability, and Chelsea immediately scored. He is arguably one of the best holding midfielders in the world, certainly in the top four, and Chelsea struggles without him.
Yehor Yarmolyuk (Brentford): He excelled in every aspect of Monday’s win at West Ham. He was solid and efficient, conducting his business with grace and effectiveness. While I considered several other central midfielders, Yarmolyuk earned his place.
Erling Haaland (Manchester City): This player continues to break records at an astonishing rate. His Premier League statistics are remarkable. We are only in October, and it is already frightening. He will easily score 50 goals.
Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace): This might sound peculiar, but his late miss almost cost him a place in the team, despite scoring a hat-trick in the 3-3 draw with Bournemouth. That miss could have secured the win, but his inclusion follows his recent goal for France.
Danny Welbeck (Brighton): Scored two goals for Brighton and is generating discussions about a potential England call-up, which I wholeheartedly support. He delivered a wonderful performance as they beat Newcastle 2-1, displaying impressive endurance. He seems to be enjoying the game more as he gets older.
Unai Emery (Aston Villa): His team was trailing 1-0 at Spurs. His tactical adjustments turned the game around, leading to a 2-1 victory.
Jean-Philippe Mateta
Star of the show in Saturday’s six-goal thriller at Selhurst Park was Jean-Philippe Mateta, with the in-form Frenchman scoring a hat-trick against Bournemouth which meant he hit the 50-goal involvement mark in the Premier League for the Eagles, courtesy of 43 goals and eight assists (51 in total).
The striker has scored two of Palace’s three Premier League hat-tricks, while courtesy of his late penalty strike, he was the first player to have his third goal of the game come courtesy of a 90th-minute equaliser since Somen Tchoyi in May 2011 for West Bromwich Albion against Newcastle United.
Alas, Mateta’s trio of goals was not enough to earn all three points for the hosts, thus becoming the first player to score a home Premier League hat-trick and not win since Andy Carroll in April 2016 in a 3-3 draw for West Ham against Arsenal.
Overall Mateta had six big chances in the game (scoring three), the joint-most in a Premier League game on record (since 2010-11).
Danny Welbeck
He may be in the autumn of his career, but at 34 years old Danny Welbeck is showing no signs of slowing down.
Against Newcastle on Saturday, Brighton’s veteran striker scored a match-winning double to make it four goals in his past three Premier League games, more than in his previous 15 appearances in the competition combined (three).
The former Manchester United and Arsenal man’s recent goals have tended to be game-changers, with 12 of his past 13 top-flight strikes either putting the Seagulls ahead (nine, including two at the weekend) or drawing the game level (three), with five of those goals winners.
Welbeck has Georginio Rutter to thank for setting up one of his goals against the Magpies, with four of the Dutchman’s five Premier League assists for Brighton coming for the former England striker, with all four putting Brighton ahead in the game.
In an all-round superb display, Welbeck also set up a joint-game-high three goalscoring chances for team-mates.
Erling Haaland
It would not be a Premier League weekend without another tour de force display from Erling Haaland, with the unstoppable Manchester City striker among the goals again on Saturday against Everton.
The Norwegian scored his 10th (and 11th) Premier League goals of the season, with this being the third earliest (MD8) a player has reached double figures in a campaign in the competition, with, you guessed it, Haaland himself also responsible for the other two (MD5 in 2022-23, MD6 in 2024-25).
With 11 Premier League goals under his belt already, Haaland has, incredibly, scored as many or more goals than 12 of the other 19 sides in the competition this season.
Haaland had Savinho to thank for setting up one of his goals on Saturday, with seven of the Brazilian’s 12 assists for Manchester City in all competitions coming for the Norwegian. Since the start of last season, only Jacob Murphy has assisted a specific team-mate more often among Premier League sides (nine, for Alexander Isak at Newcastle).
Do you agree with Troy’s selections? Who would be in your team of the week? Share your thoughts using the comments form below:
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