Liverpool winger Ben Doak was the Player of the Match and put in an impressive performance as Scotland won 1-0 against Croatia in the UEFA Nations League. Once again, the teenager ran riot against Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol.
He kept a close eye on Luka Modric too and showed some brilliant skills at times, with the confidence gained by heading on loan to Middlesbrough clearly paying off. Doak, according to the Daily Mail match report, is fast becoming his country’s main man at the age of just 19.
“On a bleak and miserable evening in Glasgow’s south side, the former Celtic prospect lit up proceedings time and time again, seemingly on a one-man mission to get his side going,” it wrote. “It’s hard to recall the last time a player wearing the dark blue of Scotland was able to get bums off seats with such regularity.”
Doak fearlessly drove forward with the ball and at one point flicked it through his own legs on the turn, beating Gvardiol with skill and pace. Just like in the last international break, he gave the $95m (£75m/€90m) man a torrid time, being labeled “cheeky”, “arrogant” and “sublime”.
And the BBC’s verdict was similarly as enthusiastic. “The margin of Scotland’s victory was tight. The margin of Doak’s superiority was vast,” it said. Scotland boss Steve Clarke has attempted to urge caution when it comes to getting excited about the Liverpool talent but that is only going to become more difficult if he carries on playing like this.
Doak created the most chances of anyone on the pitch and showed the complete fearlessness that comes with being a player with his ability, confidence and youthful exuberance. There is still more for him to do when it comes to getting the final pass or shot right but the raw talent is there for all to see.
Liverpool.com says: Doak is a hugely exciting talent. He could have left Liverpool permanently during the summer but a loan spell seems to have been a good choice. He was ready for senior soccer and he is getting that in the Championship. To make it at Liverpool, you have to show you are one of the best at that level and he appears to be doing that and more at the moment.
