Speaking on the Liverpool Echo’s Blood Red Podcast, Scottish expert Owen Brown has been giving the lowdown on Ben Doak after it was reported that he’ll be joining Liverpool.
The 16-year-old is reportedly on his way to Anfield for a compensation fee of just £600,000, and this could be a very exciting signing.
Doak will be a relatively unknown player for many Liverpool fans. After all, he’s barely played any senior football up in Scotland, but Brown knows him well from his time covering Celtic and Scotland’s youth teams.
The journalist says that the youngster is a fast and strong right-winger in the mould of Mohamed Salah.
What’s been said?
Brown gave his review of Doak and his talents.
“He’s more of an attacker really, he plays on the right wing for both Celtic and Scotland, he’s the type of player who could ultimately play across the frontline, which I know is something Liverpool value. Generally, he’s a right-winger in a 4-3-3 system, they use a modern system similar to Liverpool. Similarly for Scotland, he’s a right sided player in a 4-2-3-1 and recently he started up front in a 5-3-2,” Brown said.
“His attributes are all geared up for attacking. His pace is what you notice about him, exceptional acceleration, but also really good speed and stamina, his size is intriguing. He’s not tall, but he’s kind of stocky with a strong upper-half, and he’s good at receiving the ball with his back to goal.
“He’s robust for a winger and his other main asset is his directness, he dribbles a lot and his dribbles are based off of acceleration and anticipation, more efficient than tricky, and that will fit into Liverpool’s style.”
Brown was then asked which player Doak is most similar to, and his answer will please a lot of Liverpool supporters.
“If you want music to your ears as Liverpool fans, I don’t want to create unrealistic headlines, but it’s Mo Salah for me, he has this stature, the physique, the strength, not the superhuman build that Salah has, and obviously not the level of acceleration, trickery and eye for goal, but there are similarities there in terms of physique and style of play,” Brown said.
Exciting
This sounds like an incredibly exciting signing.
Of course, expectations need to be tapered. After all, Doak is just 16 years old, but with the right coaching and tutelage, it sounds as though this youngster could be a star.
Factor in that the Reds also have the likes of Kaide Gordon coming through in that attack, and the future looks very bright at Anfield.
Doak may not play in the first-team for a few years yet, but he’s certainly a player to keep an eye out for.
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