Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

'Hard to believe' - Liverpool summer transfer challenge outlined after impressive European change

From Neco Williams through to current first-teamers Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott, the UEFA Youth League has provided an ideal showcase for Liverpool's next generation of hopefuls.

None, though, have made their impact at the tender age of Ben Doak.

"It is hard to believe he's still only 16," says Reds coach Barry Lewtas having watched the fledgling winger post a hugely impressive performance in the 4-3 win at Rangers on Wednesday.

READ MORE: Virgil van Dijk fumes at Liverpool team-mates as Thiago Alcantara bemused by referee

READ MORE: Mikel Arteta breaks silence on FA investigation after Arsenal's Liverpool complaint

As a former Celtic player who had already appeared in a senior Old Firm clash before moving to Liverpool in a £600,000 transfer in the summer, Doak - who scored in the 4-1 win over Rangers in last week's reverse fixture - was undoubtedly determined to make a major contribution.

His wonderful individual late winning goal will catch the eye, so too his outrageous skill and later brilliant throughball to set up two goals for Oakley Cannonier. But it was his display when moved off the right flank to a lone striker's role following the sending-off of centre-back Lee Jonas early in the second half that was the most encouraging aspect for Lewtas.

"He was excellent, especially when we went a man down," says Lewtas. "We always thought especially with Ben, we had a threat in behind. We tried to continue with a two up front, but then as the game wore on we realised we needed to be more resilient in the middle and at the back. Ben was a great outlet and scored his goal out of nothing.

"I thought his work-rate was phenomenal and his ability to keep going as a lone nine. There was no moaning from him. He tried to hold the ball up and played for the team. The last two games he has certainly raised his game, but unfortunately for him he can't play against Rangers every week!

"You wouldn't want to play against Ben. He keeps knocking on the door, running in behind, he carries the ball and is aggressive. We saw good individual moments of skill against Rangers when he was one-on-one with the full-back.

"Ben isn't going to score hat-tricks and goals every week, but we saw enough against Rangers that he can keep in his game week in, week out. The real challenge now is to sustain that level of performance, certainly off the ball."

Before Doak's decisive strike 10 minutes from time, Liverpool had been pegged back from 3-1 down to 3-3 following the dismissal of Jonas, who will join goalkeeper Harvey Davies - who picked up a third yellow card in four group games - in being suspended for the trip to Ajax in a fortnight. Should the young Reds avoid defeat, they will secure top spot and automatic progress to the last-16 with a game to spare.

"It was a tough day in some ways, but we ground it out," says Lewtas of the win that maintained Liverpool's 100% group stage record. "Do I like that situation? No, I didn't enjoy it! But when you reflect on it after the battle - you're too involved when it's happening - yes, we will have learned from it.

"We said at half-time to the players that the game was far from done, but we did have a bit of control and the red card flipped things on its head. We've learned an awful lot about them."

Cannonier was replaced shortly before half-time having taken his tally to seven goals in four games in the competition this season, and Lewtas explains: "Oakley felt a bit of hamstring tightness and we didn't want to take any risks."

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.