There are lots of phrases to describe Ben Doak, Liverpool’s 17-12 months-old Scottish prodigy tipped for a substantial long term, but let us give the flooring to the supervisor and captain. ‘Ben’s a special boy,’ said Jurgen Klopp this summer. ‘He’s like a Tasmanian Satan,’ extra Virgil Van Dijk.
As Liverpool embark on an unwanted Europa League marketing campaign, Doak is one particular of many blessings in disguise to arrive from Thursday jaunts to rogue places, setting up on Thursday with a trip to Linz, a city which straddles the Danube River midway concerning Vienna and Salzburg.
People exterior the Merseyside bubble could not know much about Doak, other than possibly remembering he was the younger lad likely in the opposite way as Mo Salah threw a temper tantrum when substituted on the Premier League opening weekend at Stamford Bridge.
With the match at 1-1 versus Chelsea, Klopp ditched his star gentleman and threw on the new ace in his pack, Doak. He joins just Michael Owen as players to function for Liverpool in the 1st week of a Leading League period just before turning 18. Several enthusiasts have applied the Owen comparison.
Prodigy Ben Doak, who plays as a winger, has been tipped for a huge potential by senior figures
Jurgen Klopp has termed Doak a ‘special boy’ who ‘has a little something no one else delivers’ and the 17-12 months-aged signed a new deal at Anfield this week
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The direct and pacey proper winger made his debut on Boxing Day previous year versus Aston Villa. ‘I bear in mind when he came on versus Villa away past calendar year, and he did that stepover and went previous the total back,’ claimed captain Van Dijk following a pre-period pleasant in Preston previous thirty day period.
‘He’s extremely exciting, really immediate, 1-on-a single. I contact him a Tasmanian Devil with the way he is buzzing all-around, he’s just so speedy. If his selection earning will get superior – and he has all the time in the globe for that – then he could unquestionably be just one for the potential.’
Doak, whose agent is former Celtic star Jackie McNamara, dazzled in the humidity of Singapore throughout a pre-period tour and it was fascinating when patrolling the plush Ritz Carlton Resort base to hear a thick Scottish brogue that was not from Andy Robertson.
When Ibrahima Konate requested each individual player to identify their favourite song, Doak broke from the concept of hip-hop beats and Latin American tunes, instead choosing Glaswegian Gerry Cinnamon’s Belter. Similar to how that anthem goes, Doak is a belter, distinctive from the rest.
‘Ben is a specific boy,’ reported Klopp. ‘He is seriously self-confident and has something no person else delivers… this sort of dribbling, this kind of straight-ahead bravery, all these kinds of issues.’ And the manager is right, Doak has an electrifying rate and is very direct.
These shut to 17-12 months-old Doak say Robertson and Liverpool’s liaison workforce have played a significant position in aiding him settle immediately after original homesickness next his £600,000 switch from Celtic in 2022.
Speaking to previous coaches and team-mates from Ayr United and Dalry Rovers, few are amazed at his increase. But several have been taken aback by the sheer speed in which he has ascended to be on the periphery of the starting up XI.
Jarell Quansah has designed strides in the Liverpool squad this calendar year and is trusted to deputise
Stefan Bajcetic earned a place in the crew final yr and shone as Liverpool’s type waned
Doak signed a new extended-time period offer at Anfield this 7 days and is on the radar of Steve Clarke’s senior Scotland group. Resources near to the teen say he is stage-headed and treats each individual predicament the similar, no matter whether it be a kick-about on the park or a vital Premier League match.
He will absolutely be component of the Europa League marketing campaign and is established for minutes – most likely from the begin – towards Austrian Bundesliga crew LASK on Thursday. Jarell Quansah, the 20-12 months-previous who was thrown in the deep stop to start at Wolves final Saturday, is also likely to feature.
Quansah is another tipped for a huge upcoming. Following expending part of previous year on loan at Bristol Rovers, the Warrington-born defender had loads of provides to go away quickly all over again but Klopp vetoed it. The manager trusts Quansah, 20, to deputise when desired.
‘In this sort of a disorganised group like we had in the first fifty percent, he was the one who looked alright… which is a assertion from him,’ reported Klopp at Wolves on Saturday. Quansah is cozy in possession and, at 6ft 3in, is commanding further than his yrs.
Stefan Bajcetic, 18, was a shining light of a bad marketing campaign when specified chances past phrase. The Spaniard will vacation to Austria and could be set for minutes after a lengthy injury lay-off, whilst Irish keeper Caiomhin Kelleher is in line to deputise for Alisson.
Whole-back again Conor Bradley was the rationale the Reds did not indicator cover for Trent Alexander-Arnold
Conor Bradley, the Northern Irish comprehensive-again who scored 5 plans and assisted yet another 5 on bank loan at Bolton last term, was the rationale Liverpool did not target a suitable-again this summertime as go over for Trent Alexander-Arnold. He is favored and will get prospects but is wounded at the instant.
There will also be minutes for new signings Wataru Endo, the Japan captain, and Ryan Gravenberch. The Dutch midfielder signed on Deadline Day then remained on Merseyside around the global crack – to the annoyance of his region – and could be set for a initial begin in this article.
Aside from the simple fact the Europa League is a fantastic prospect of silverware – Liverpool missing to Sevilla in the final in Basel in 2016 – falling into UEFA’s secondary competitiveness could be a blessing in disguise for many youngsters and fringe players, with Doak by far the shining star.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Kelleher Gomez, Konate, Quansah, Tsimikas Gravenberch, Endo, Elliott Doak, Nunez, Diaz.