<p>The 28-year-old started his second Premier League game of the season in what was a heavily rotated Forest side against the Blues at Stamford Bridge.</p>
<p>It took the former Union Berlin striker just 97 seconds to head home from Dilane Bakwa’s cross, scoring either side of Igor Jesus’ penalty to secure a fifth straight win across all competitions for Vitor Pereira’s men.</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full”><img decoding=”async” width=”8100″ height=”5451″ src=”https://www.afrik-foot.com/en-ng/thumbor/mSqjyv8g51UG_6mEFJjlJns2WZs=/8100×5451/smart/filters:format(webp)/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.afrik-foot.com%2Fen-ng%2F2026%2F05%2Fimago1077037648.jpg” alt=”Taiwo Awoniyi of Nottingham Forest goal celebration with Morgan Gibbs-White” class=”wp-image-914332″/><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Taiwo Awoniyi of Nottingham Forest’s goal celebration with Morgan Gibbs-White. Copyright: ImagoxDanielxWeir/SportsxPressxPhotox</figcaption></figure>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading”>Taiwo Awoniyi makes Premier League Team of the Week</h2>
<p>Deeney, famously known as a Watford striker before he hung up his boots, took up punditry with the BBC and is now tasked with picking the <strong><a href=”https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cwy21xwnz10o” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>BBC Team of the Week</a></strong>.</p>
<p>In goal, the Englishman opted for Nottingham Forest’s Matz Sels, who made crucial saves in his side’s 3-1 win over Chelsea.</p>
<p>The Belgian denied Cole Palmer from twelve yards, and genuinely looked like he would go home with a clean sheet before he was beaten from Joao Pedro’s bicycle kick.</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full”><img decoding=”async” width=”4439″ height=”2960″ src=”https://www.afrik-foot.com/en-ng/thumbor/_aDMQCYyZxOTwmiMkfAw-S995zU=/4439×2960/smart/filters:format(webp)/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.afrik-foot.com%2Fen-ng%2F2026%2F05%2Fimago1077034819.jpg” alt=”Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels” class=”wp-image-914348″/><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels. Copyright: ImagoxKatiexChan</figcaption></figure>
<p>In a back three, Deeney opted for Everton’s Vitaliy Mykolenko, who was very physical against Antoine Semenyo as they played up a 3-3 draw against Manchester City last night.</p>
<p>Micky Van de Ven joins the Ukrainian and Marcos Senesi in the BBC Team of the Week’s backline.</p>
<p>Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo is the midfield spotlight after celebrating his new contract with a brilliant display in his side’s 3-2 win over Liverpool.</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full”><img decoding=”async” width=”3985″ height=”2759″ src=”https://www.afrik-foot.com/en-ng/thumbor/wbFbKBOE1ehyVjJkb7H7qDB-N1o=/3985×2759/smart/filters:format(webp)/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.afrik-foot.com%2Fen-ng%2F2026%2F05%2Fimago1076992294.jpg” alt=”Kobbie Mainoo celebrates scoring the third goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool” class=”wp-image-914351″/><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Kobbie Mainoo celebrates scoring the third goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool. Copyright: ImagoxVisionhausx</figcaption></figure>
<blockquote class=”wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow”>
<p>“When you look at the back end of the season compared to the start of the season, it has been night and day. It just shows what a bit of love and care can do to somebody. </p>
<p>“I’m not willing to say Mainoo is the man yet – I think we have to see more of a body of work – but I would say the win against Liverpool was the best performance I’ve seen him have in a United shirt. </p>
<p>“Dominated the game, made some big tackles, passing forward, breaking up the play but also coming with the goal. The most complete performance from him, I thought he was excellent,” Deeney wrote about the youngster.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Mainoo is joined by the Tottenham Hotspur duo, Mathys Tel and Connor Gallagher. Tel set up Gallagher’s goal in their 2-1 win over Aston Villa over the weekend.</p>
<p>Dominik Szoboszlai was the only spark for a lacklustre Liverpool side at Old Trafford on Sunday evening. </p>
<p>The Hungarian scored and set up Cody Gakpo’s equaliser, before Kobbi Mainoo took all of the glory in front of the Stretford End.</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full”><img decoding=”async” width=”3000″ height=”2373″ src=”https://www.afrik-foot.com/en-ng/thumbor/1NEolUVToT4ZpvSeX6WcUo7eYvo=/3000×2373/smart/filters:format(webp)/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.afrik-foot.com%2Fen-ng%2F2026%2F05%2Fimago1077047034.jpg” alt=”Erling Haaland of Manchester City hugs goalscorer Jeremy Doku” class=”wp-image-914355″/><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Erling Haaland of Manchester City hugs goalscorer Jeremy Doku. Copyright: ImagoxAndrew Yates / Sportimage</figcaption></figure>
<p>Jeremy Doku’s brilliant display against Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium secured his spot in Deeney’s team.</p>
<p>The Belgian winger was simply unplayable against David Moyes’ side. After breaking the deadlock with a brilliant left-footed curler just before the end of the first half, Doku sealed a vital point for Manchester City with another curler in the 97th minute for Pep Guardiola’s men.</p>
<p>In attack, Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres leads the line, after what was arguably his best performance for the Gunners this season against Fulham. The former Sporting Lisbon striker scored a brace, while setting up Bukayo Saka’s goal as well.</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full”><img decoding=”async” width=”4200″ height=”2800″ src=”https://www.afrik-foot.com/en-ng/thumbor/mNUu1VVUzgNfay1tspXRObgfbl4=/4200×2800/smart/filters:format(webp)/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.afrik-foot.com%2Fen-ng%2F2026%2F05%2Fimago1074837481-1.jpg” alt=”Nigeria and Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi” class=”wp-image-914263″/><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Nigeria and Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi. Copyright: xMIxNewsx IMAGO</figcaption></figure>
<blockquote class=”wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow”>
<p>“A big performance from him. Only his second start of the season for Forest,” Deeney wrote about Taiwo Awoniyi.</p>
<p>“I saw him earlier in the season against Chelsea and he looked like he was carrying a wagon, like he couldn’t play football any more, but playing this Chelsea team, how the roles have reversed. He looked fantastic – two goals, powerful performance.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Awoniyi took his opportunity against an out-of-form Chelsea side, scoring a brace against the Blues for the second time in his career.</p>
<p>Nottingham Forest head coach Vitor Pereira was also Deeney’s pick for the Coach of the Week.</p>
