BBC football pundit Troy Deeney has revealed his Premier League Team of the Week following the latest round of matches, highlighting standout performances across the league.
After a weekend of scrappy encounters that Deeney himself described as lacking "standout matches," the former Watford striker still found plenty of individual brilliance to celebrate in his selections.
Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson earned his place between the posts after making eight crucial saves to secure a clean sheet in Palace's narrow 1-0 victory over Ipswich Town. Deeney was particularly impressed with Henderson's performance, even suggesting he could be "a contender for an England starting position."
Nottingham Forest's defensive duo Ola Aina and Murillo both made the cut after their impressive display in shutting down Manchester City in a surprise 1-0 win. "Nottingham Forest were superb in their victory against Manchester City - and both Aina and Murillo have been great all season," Deeney noted.
Aston Villa's Tyrone Mings was selected following his return from injury, with Deeney commenting: "It was just great to see him back playing against Brentford and enjoying his football. He has had a lot of injury mishaps but has never quit and never shirked a challenge."
Completing the defensive lineup is Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez, whom Deeney rates extremely highly: "For me he is one of the best left-backs in world football already. He is exceptional with the ball and without it, runs all day and has loads of room to grow. It is not surprising that Liverpool have been linked to him."
In midfield, Arsenal's Declan Rice earned praise for his goal against Manchester United, with Deeney defending Rice's celebration: "When he doesn't score people say he doesn't score enough - but when he does he gets stick for celebrating!" Deeney also highlighted Rice's development as a "really talented 'number eight'" who "runs into great pockets" of space.
Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes was recognized for scoring the decisive goal in their must-win match against West Ham, particularly impressive given the looming Carabao Cup final. "He was one of the few that didn't shirk a tackle, and still played this game at full intensity," said Deeney.
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes completed the midfield trio, with Deeney acknowledging a change in his perception of the Portuguese star: "I have been critical of Fernandes over the years... Since the new manager has come in, he has shown a completely new level of character. If Manchester United want to get to where they aspire to be, then they need this guy."
In attack, Liverpool's Mohamed Salah made the team despite Deeney noting he "wasn't great on the day against Southampton," but his two goals helped extend Liverpool's lead at the top of the league.
Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins earned his spot after scoring against his former club Brentford, with Deeney supporting his celebration: "He celebrated against his old team, which he should do - a good weekend for him!"
Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr rounded out the forward line after scoring the winner against Ipswich, showing what Deeney called "a moment of class."
For his manager of the week, Deeney selected Newcastle's Eddie Howe, praising his commitment to winning despite the upcoming cup final: "Howe could have easily chosen a different team against West Ham and rested everybody so they were ready for the cup final. Instead he went for it and made sure he got the job done... He deserves credit for instilling that 'win every game' mentality."
The selections reflect a weekend that Deeney described as "awful" for teams overall, with many "scrappy performances" suggesting players might be ready for an international break.
