17-year-old winger Ben Doak joined Liverpool from Celtic’s academy during last summer’s transfer window. The combative winger, whose most attractive feature is his sharp dribbling, showed glimpses of his talent in the Premier League and cup competitions.
This season, he was part of the first team’s preseason squad and made an appearance in the opening game of the Premier League season. Although he has not been able to play since then due to the fierce competition in the forward ranks, he should be able to play in the League Cup and FA Cup, among other competitions.
The young Scottish gem was mentioned by 26-year-old defender Nathaniel Phillips, who is on loan at Celtic from Liverpool. He said that he has the fundamentals to become a big player, but that it is up to the player to develop.
“From what I’ve seen from Doaky, plenty of people have plenty of reason to be excited,”
“He’s very confident. Sometimes young boys come up to the first team and play within themselves but that’s not been the case with him. He’s electric when he’s running at players – he’s happy to run at anyone. If he continues to progress the way he’s doing, he’ll do well.”
“Fearless is the way I’d describe him, he’s got bags of ability, especially in one-v-one situations. The rest is up to Ben and how he applies himself and his game. The basic tools and the foundations are there to become a great player.”
His dribble penetration against his peers is brilliant, but in situations where he faces experienced defenders, his positioning and reading often block his greatest appeal. He will need not only to dribble in a straight line, but also to deceive his opponents.
Still, he has the potential to excite the crowd, and the competitive spirit needed to break into the first team as a teenager, so will he continue to develop on and off the pitch and make Anfield history?