Liverpool have plucked another gem from their academy in Kirkby, who is already showing signs of following Raheem Sterling’s path at Anfield.
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The future of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool is being evaluated Football summary
Liverpool could have a new Raheem Sterling in their ranks as Jurgen Klopp faces a headache over the performances of youngster Ben Doak.
The 17-year-old has made a splash at Anfield after some impressive performances in pre-season and the star looks set to make an impact in the Premier League and cup competitions this season, with Klopp speaking highly of his progress.
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Doak enjoyed his moment in the spotlight during the international break after playing 77 minutes for Scotland’s Under-21s in their 1-0 defeat to Spain.
Ahead of his return to Anfield this week, the striker will do everything possible to get a chance from the opening minutes under Klopp.
Doak was signed by Scottish champions Celtic in 2021 and although he probably expected to spend a few years developing within the academy, the Glaswegian has made quite an impression.
In that sense, he quickly became Liverpool’s next Sterling given the way he arrived from QPR and it quickly became clear that he was good enough for the senior team.
With Doak, it’s largely the same. In pre-season he scored a fine header and wreaked havoc in the 4-0 win over Leicester, with Klopp paying tribute to his “special” quartet of Dominik Szoboszlai, Darwin Nunez, Alexis Mac Allister and Doak.
He then got a brief 13-minute cameo against Chelsea as Klopp tried to find a winner but it ended 0–0.
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Ben Doak: The Liverpool youngster is ready for a bigger role.
Having already made his debut, Doak is now a regular on the Liverpool bench and it would be no surprise to see him start in the Europa League group stages against the likes of LASK Linz and Toulouse.
There is no doubt he remains a raw talent, but Klopp’s nurturing presence means he should be able to carve him into a good player.
His pace and work rate will allow him to fit into his plans seamlessly, giving Klopp a potential long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah if he ultimately ends his career.
And the German has already highlighted his qualities with his own enthusiastic praise of the Scot.
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Liverpool’s 23/24 home shirt pays homage to the club’s past, as well as its collaborator Nike, with a strong 1970s influence.
The iconic red, topped with bold white cuffs and collar, truly evokes style Liverpool FC classic while adding a cool retro touch.
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“Ben Doak, obviously good signs, he’s back with us in training,” Klopp said earlier this summer, as quoted by the Daily Record.
“[He’s a] special kid, really confident, he’s got something that no one else really offers. That kind of dribbling, that kind of direct bravery… all that kind of stuff.”
Sterling broke into the team under Brendan Rodgers during the 2012-13 season and, although he only scored twice in 36 appearances, his performances were enough to convince Liverpool they had a future star in its ranks. He went on to score a further 21 goals in 90 games before joining Manchester City in a £50m transfer.
Times have changed since then, with Liverpool having been City’s closest challengers for the past five years.
With Doak they could return to fighting for the right to be called Premier League champions, but only if they manage to keep him out of Pep Guardiola’s sights.
