Troy Deeney's latest team of the week is driven by the weekend's most obvious attacking performances. Viktor Gyokeres forced his way in with two goals and an assist against Fulham, while Jeremy Doku scored twice in the same match, striking once with each foot. Deeney also used his XI to highlight a bigger risk that paid off, with Nottingham Forest's eight changes at Chelsea earning his approval.
Why Gyokeres and Doku were the easy calls
This was the simple part of Deeney's selection. Gyokeres and Doku did the headline damage, and there was no need to dress it up as anything else.
Deeney told bbc.co.uk: "Two goals and an assist against Fulham, in the season where people are asking him to do more, including myself. You have to give him credit - 21 goals in all competitions, fair play to him."
That all-competitions line matters. The verified total for Gyokeres is 21 in all competitions, with 14 of those coming in the Premier League. The Fulham performance stands out on its own, but it also fits a season that has produced strong output rather than a one-off burst.
Doku's case was even more visual. He scored two goals in the same match, one with either foot, and Deeney's reaction was blunt enough to tell you how highly he rated it. "Two unbelievable strikes in the same match and one with either foot," he said. Deeney added that Doku is frustrating because of the extra tricks in his game, but when the finishing is that clean, the criticism tends to fade for a week.
The interesting part here is that Deeney did not need to stretch for either inclusion. Gyokeres had the numbers, Doku had the spectacle, and both had the kind of direct goal contribution that usually decides these end-of-week selections.
Forest's Chelsea gamble deserved the extra attention
The more interesting call in the wider column was Nottingham Forest. Deeney focused on Vitor Pereira making eight changes at Chelsea, which was the sort of decision that can look clever only after the result goes your way.
He told bbc.co.uk: "Massive gamble to make eight changes at Chelsea. It could have easily derailed them but it made them bigger and bolder against a poor Chelsea team. A massive performance nonetheless."
That feels fair. Forest are 16th with 42 points, so this was not a story about a side pushing for something glamorous. It was about a team lower down the table taking a risk and getting a 3-1 win from it. Deeney was right to give that more weight than a routine away result.
The individual names matter too. Matz Sels was part of the weekend's strong Forest showing, and the broad point in Deeney's picks was that bravery from the bench and bravery on the pitch lined up nicely.
Mainoo and van de Ven gave the XI some substance
Deeney's team was not only about goalscorers. Kobbie Mainoo made it in after what Deeney called his best display for Manchester United, in a win over Liverpool.
"The win against Liverpool was the best performance I've seen him have in a United shirt," Deeney said. "Dominated the game, made some big tackles, passing forward, breaking up the play but also coming with the goal."
That is stronger praise than a standard team-of-the-week nod. Mainoo has made 25 Premier League appearances and carries a 6.85 rating in the league data supplied here, so Deeney was pointing to a performance inside an established season rather than a youngster appearing from nowhere.
Micky van de Ven got similar backing after Tottenham's win. Deeney said: "He got back a few times with his pace that we all know about. Big tackles, and was just a real leader - which I haven't been able to say much about him."
That last line is probably the key one. Van de Ven's pace has never been the question. The leadership note is what gave the pick a bit more edge, especially with 32 Premier League appearances behind him already.
Taken together, the XI reads like a team built around clear weekend impact first, then rounded out by players who either justified faith or answered a bit of noise around them. Gyokeres and Doku were the obvious centrepieces. Forest's win at Chelsea gave Deeney his best underdog angle. Mainoo and van de Ven made sure the team was not just a list of forwards who happened to score.
FAQ
Why were Viktor Gyokeres and Jeremy Doku the headline picks in Troy Deeney's team of the week?
They had the clearest attacking impact of the weekend. Gyokeres produced two goals and an assist against Fulham, and Deeney said that took him to 21 goals in all competitions. Doku scored twice in the same match, with one goal on either foot, which Deeney described as keeping Manchester City's season alive.
What did Troy Deeney say about Nottingham Forest's changes against Chelsea?
Deeney called it a massive gamble after Forest made eight changes at Chelsea. He said it could have derailed them but instead made them bigger and bolder against a poor Chelsea team. The result backed that up, with Forest winning 3-1 and moving on from a match Deeney treated as a major statement in their run-in.
Did Troy Deeney praise Kobbie Mainoo after Manchester United's win over Liverpool?
Yes. Deeney said the display against Liverpool was the best he had seen from Mainoo in a Manchester United shirt. He highlighted Mainoo's big tackles, forward passing, work breaking up play and the fact he also scored, which made him one of the standout midfield picks in the team.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
