Troy Deeney names his Premier League team and manager of the week
Troy Deeney has named his Premier League team and manager of the week after the latest round of Premier League matches on 12 October 2026, selecting players from clubs including Crystal Palace, Brighton, Leeds, Coventry, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City.
Deeney, writing for BBC Sport, provides a team and manager pick after every round of fixtures and invites readers to respond. His selections combine match-defining moments and individual contributions; readers can submit their views via the comments form at the bottom of the page.
In goal Deeney picked Crystal Palace’s Walter Benitez, citing the save from Liam Delap’s effort — when Delap struck the ball into Benitez’s face — as the turning point that preserved Palace’s win. Brighton’s Ferdi Kadioglu made Deeney’s back line after a second-half block that prevented what would have been a 1-1 equaliser. Jefferson Lerma earns a spot after being deployed at centre-back despite usually being a centre-midfielder; Deeney noted Lerma scored, made significant tackles and helped Palace play out from the back.
James Justin is included for Leeds following what Deeney described as a marked positional transformation since his time at Leicester, operating effectively as a right wing-back and centre-back and scoring an “unbelievable goal.” Ethan Pinnock was singled out for his physical presence and calming influence since joining Coventry from Brentford, while Riccardo Calafiori was praised for his forward movement, defensive solidity and contribution in goals and assists for Arsenal.
Jordan Henderson made the midfield after scoring twice, with Deeney adding: "Thankfully he didn't climb over any of the hoardings and hurt himself. The confidence to say to Cole Palmer 'I know you just had an eight-year contract extension, but let me just put this in the top corner', and then he scores that free-kick." Matt Grimes was selected as an unsung presence in Coventry’s midfield, with Deeney saying he moves the ball well and proved he can make the step up in the match against Newcastle.
Deeney’s attacking choices included Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki, whom he described in full: "He's just the best football player to watch in world football, isn't he? He is the perfect player for City in this situation. Everybody hates them, everyone thinks that they cheated and he just walks on the pitch and says, 'give me the ball lads, let me have some fun'. He makes you smile while watching him." Jeremy Doku was credited with changing a game after producing a goal and an assist following Ryan Gravenberch’s red card, and Joao Pedro was projected by Deeney to have a prolific season with support from Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer.
For manager of the week Deeney chose Manchester City’s Enzo Maresca, saying he "got the job done at Anfield, but also galvanised the team and made it all about 'us versus the rest of the world'." Deeney added that Maresca’s tactical switch to bring on Doku changed the match and noted City's current position at the top of the league.
Do you agree with Deeney’s selections? Have your say using the comments form below; follow your Premier League club on BBC Sport, explore football quizzes on the site, or sign up to get football news sent straight to your phone.
