Antony’s goals against Arsenal and Everton in the Premier League earlier this season were both left-footed strikes bent past the goalkeeper from inside the area, while his goal against Manchester City was whipped into the far corner from the edge of the box.
The Brazil international’s strike against Forest was far less spectacular as he tapped home the rebound after Keylor Navas saved Anthony Martial‘s shot, but former United captain Roy Keane praised him for being in the right position to take that kind of chance.
“It’s vital to get those types of goals,” Keane told Sky Sports. “We’ve been critical and he’s got to get in there a little bit more and have that hunger and desire.
“As skilful as he is, these are important moments. To get on the end of it and get a tap in, it’s a big moment for him.”
Antony set up Dalot’s goal with a jinking run across Forest’s area and Keane said: “We saw the brilliance of him for the second goal.
“But doing the basics like following shots, players have got to do that because these are big moments.”
Antony has now scored nine goals in all competitions for United but his output is still falling short of what he produced during his two years with Ajax.
While he is undoubtedly now playing in a stronger competition having swapped the Eredivise for the Premier League, Antony’s displays in the Dutch top flight helped to convince Ten Hag to urge United to pay nearly £90m to bring him to Old Trafford.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink urged Antony to continue to improve the number of goals and assists he provides for United, even encouraging him to reach the levels Mohamed Salah achieved when Liverpool won the league in 2020.
“He needs to score more goals,” said the former Netherlands international. “Today it was important he was getting [the goal] at 1-0, not 4-0. He also needs to create more goals as well.
“When Liverpool won the league, Salah scored 30 goals. That is where he needs to get to.”
