Ben Doak forces Liverpool to tear up Europa League storyline as Scotland star boy faces special mission
The 17-year-old has been called up to the Reds’ senior squad for the Europa League season.
Ben Doak is winning the hearts and minds of Scotland and Liverpool fans around the world and the emerging talent has been included in the Reds’ A-list Europa League squad.
Jurgen Klopp has shown great faith in the 17-year-old since joining Anfield from Celtic for a fee of just £600,000.
Doak has shone for the Premier League giants when given the chance, leading their youth team at a gallop and looking particularly impressive in pre-season.
That’s why all Scotland fans believe the winger is the future hero of the Tartan Army and he continued that momentum for Scot Gemmill’s U21 side against Spain on Monday.
Liverpool fans have been heaping praise on the flying Scot since his promotion to Merseyside, and now the young player who should have been on the club’s B list is on the main list of Klopp’s side, who will face LASK, Union St., Gilloise and Toulouse participate in the European second-tier competition.
And not for the reason many might assume: a UEFA rule means Doak can only participate in the competition if he is on the club’s first list.
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Teams can select 25 players from List A, but Liverpool can only select 23 due to a lack of homegrown players, so Doak’s inclusion comes at the expense of veteran goalkeeper Adrian.
Normally, Doak would be on the club’s B list as long as he has been at the club continuously for two years.
However, the winger does not meet this criterion after arriving from Parkhead in 2022. List B players can be nominated 24 hours before the match.
This means Klopp leaves an available replacement in the 36-year-old goalkeeper thanks to Doak’s talent, a huge vote of confidence in the youngster.
The same picture is emerging for new signing Ryan Gravenberch, who left FC Bayern Munich this summer. The midfielder is 21 years old and therefore part of the A-list team.
