Manchester United, ManU FC v Southampton FC Amad Diallo of Manchester United celebrates scoring a goal for their side to make it 2-1 during the Manchester United FC v Southampton FC English Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester, England, United Kingdom on 16 January 2025 Credit: Jake Kirkman/Every Second Media Editorial use only. All images are copyright Every Second Media Limited. No images may be reproduced without prior permission. All rights reserved. Premier League and Football League images are subject to licensing agreements with Football DataCo Limited. Copyright: xIMAGO/EveryxSecondxMediax ESM-1285-0245. [Photo Credit/ Imago].
Super Eagles and Fulham midfielder, Alex Chuka Iwobi, was included in Troy Deeneys BBC Matchday 21 Team of the Week after a brilliant performance in his sides midweek 3-2 loss to West Ham United, Soccernet.ng reports.
The former Arsenal man whipped in two crosses on either side of West Ham‘s goals, to reduce the deficit for Marco Silva’s side, and was aided by the dummy run of Raul Jimenez and Harry Wilson. After the game, Iwobi admitted he had no intention of scoring from those crosses.
Deeney, who was famously known as a Watford striker before he hung his boots, took up punditry with BBC and is now tasked with picking the BBC Team of the Week.
In goal, the former Watford striker opted for Nottingham Forests Matz Sels who made crucial saves in his side’s 1-1 draw against Liverpool at the City Ground. The Belgian goalkeeper made five stunning saves to keep Nuno Espirito Santo’s men in the title race.
Chelsea’s Reece James takes the right-back spot after coming off the bench to score a late free-kick in his side’s 2-2 draw against Bournemouth.
The pairing in central defence was Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa. The pair kept clean sheets in their side’s respective wins during midweek.
Fulham’s highly-rated full-back, Antonee Robinson, was Deeney’s left-back choice after picking up two assists in his side’s loss to West Ham. The USMNT defender now has nine assists in the league this season, just behind Bukayo Saka(10) and Mohammed Salah(13).
Fulham’s Alex Iwobi completes the midfield. The Nigerian put in a brilliant shift for the Cottagers, scoring a brace, and Deeney claimed the Super Eagles talisman is one of the most underrated players in the English Premier League.
“He got another couple of goals and has probably been Fulham’s best player throughout. He can play numerous positions but he has just been really, really good. He’s one of those people that we disrespect and underappreciate but if he was in your team, you would love him to death. He’s had a really good week,” the former Watford striker included in his column.
“We may as well just keep him in for the next six weeks. Mr Isak, is the best striker on the planet currently. He does everything – scores two goals, creates an assist and then goes and sits down after 70 minutes because it is job done.
“We can keep talking about how good he is – he’s an obvious replacement for others, but while he’s at a flying Newcastle team why would he leave? They may end up – don’t say it too loud – creating a little title push,” Deeney wrote about the former Real Sociedad forward.
On the right flank, Manchester United’s Amad Diallo nicks the spot without a doubt. The Ivorian scored a hat-trick against Southampton at Old Trafford last night to seal the Red Devil’s first win since the Manchester Derby in December.
“I didn’t even know he was playing in the first 70 minutes against Southampton but to get a hat-trick in 12 minutes, you have to put him in. He turned Manchester United’s team and fortunes on its head. He obviously got a nice big contract, he seems like the bright spark of this season so far but he has still got loads of learning to do and he has still got loads to improve on. He’ll only get better,” Deeney said about the young winger.
Amad became the first-ever African to score a hat-trick in Manchester United’s red colours. The 22-year-old has now scored six goals and provided six assists in 14 starts for Ruben Amorim’s side.
Copyright © 2024 Soccernet Media Limited.
Copyright © 2024 Soccernet Media Limited.