Ben Doak has been the name on everyone’s lips at the Liverpool Academy for good reason so far this season, following on from his £600k summer move from Celtic.
The 16-year-old initially impressed with the Under-18s, and in the UEFA Youth League, returning five goals and five assists from nine appearances, with Jurgen Klopp referencing the winger as a ‘big talent’ at the start of October as the first team prepared to lock horns with Rangers.
Since such praise, the former Celtic star has scored a spectacular late winner against the ‘Gers to gain further attention, before injuries in the first team and the Under-21s saw the Scotland youth international step up into Barry Lewtas’ second-string squad. Despite his tender years, he has wasted no time in making a similar impact at such a level.
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Handed his Under-21s debut as a late substitute at home to Wolves two weeks ago, he'd come off the bench to help create a goal for Calvin Ramsay before netting from close-range himself in the young Reds’ 3-2 Papa John’s Trophy defeat to Accrington Stanley.
But in the Under-21s’ latest outing, Doak made his biggest impact yet as Liverpool came from behind to beat Everton in the first mini Merseyside derby of the season.
Having made his senior debut for Celtic in an Old Firm derby as recently as January, unsurprisingly such an occasion did not faze the winger.
Wearing the number nine shirt but playing on the right, the teenager tormented left-back Mackenzie Hunt throughout as he repeatedly demonstrated why the Reds were so keen to sign him in the first place.
Beating defenders for fun with a mixture of pace and smart footwork, he'd repeatedly find a way to burst into the Everton box. Yet, as Liverpool pushed for an equaliser after falling behind to Stan Mills’ opener, he’d find his crosses blocked and cleared.
And once Jake Cain had pounced on a defensive error to level the scores, goalkeeper Zan-Luk Leban remained in inspirational form in goal to keep on denying Doak. The shot-stopper would superbly tip one strike over the bar after the winger cut inside and beat a man, while he’d save another strike with his feet at the near post.
And even when Doak did get past Leban following the rebound, he was left to curse a sea of bodies blocking his shot on the line.
After the break, Hunt was twice forced into last-ditch challenges to stop Doak in his tracks after he’d initially got in behind the left-back, first forcing the winger out of play before later blocking one shot after the youngster had been played in by Mateusz Musialowski.
But if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Derby day was Doak’s day no matter how hard Everton tried to stop him.
Racing onto a Dominic Corness long-ball as Liverpool hit the Blues on the counter, Doak would cut inside into the box before beating Leban with a powerful strike that was slightly deflected on its way in. It mattered not for the teenager, he’d got the goal his performance deserved to mark his first Under-21s start in style.
He’d nearly net a second soon after only to fire straight at Leban when one-on-one, showing the development that stills need to be done for a player who, it’s easy to forget, is still an academy starlet. But if Doak keeps on delivering like this at youth level, it would be no surprise if a first taste of senior Liverpool action soon follows with a League Cup clash at home to Derby County looming next month.
One step at a time for Ramsay
While Doak is still an Academy player, his compatriot and fellow summer signing Calvin Ramsay certainly isn’t. Yet the former Aberdeen man has had to bide his time to truly start his Liverpool career because of injury.
A ‘debut’ off the bench was marked with a goal for the Under-21s against Accrington Stanley in midweek, while he was handed his first start against Everton on Saturday. There’d be no goal for the right-back this time, but he’d put on another impressive attacking display.
Linking up well with Doak, he’d support the winger in attack as he looked to get down the right. And while he wasn’t given opportunity to demonstrate his crossing abilities, on more than one occasion he’d cut inside and try his luck at goal only to be left frustrated.
Ramsay’s afternoon would come to an end at half-time. Fortunately it was a pre-planned change with no repeat of previous injury setbacks that had delayed his first outings in Red, as the young Scott added another 45 minutes under his belt following his half-hour display against Accrington.
Still only 19, Liverpool are right to be cautious with the defender. While he might be training with the first team still, they have chosen a different path with his recovery by getting him much-needed game-time with the Under-21s in contrast to the likes of Curtis Jones, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita’s gradual reintroduction.
As a result, it would appear Ramsay has one or two steps left to take before he is featuring prominently in Klopp’s matchday squad.
Davies delivers
Having repeatedly impressed as Alisson Becker’s number two goalkeeper, Caoimhin Kelleher stills faces an unavoidable decision regarding his long-term future. Set to turn 24 next month, the Liverpool academy graduate can’t sit on a bench and feature sporadically forever.
As talented as the Republic of Ireland international is, it does feel he is perhaps coming through the ranks at the wrong time with the Reds’ Brazilian number one of the very best goalkeepers in the world.
But perhaps it could be a different story for current Under-21s goalkeeper Harvey Davies. The 19-year-old already boasts matchday squad experience and picked up a Community Shield winner’s medal back in July before returning to second-string action.
And the Scouser was in sensational form on derby day to ensure it was Liverpool who picked up local bragging rights. He'd make two great saves in the opening 10 minutes, denying Mills at his near post before racing off his line to tip a Tom Cannon effort behind when left one-on-one.
Unable to do anything about Mills’ opener, Davies watched on as the young Reds responded strongly. And while he was rarely called into action as Liverpool wrestled back control of proceedings, he was a vocal presence throughout to organise his defence.
But as Everton pushed for a late leveller, he found himself under pressure once more and rose to the occasion, saving well from Mills late on to ensure the Reds held on to win.
It remains to be seen how high Davies’ ceiling can be, but time is on his side as he looks to follow in Kelleher’s footsteps into the first team. Should the Irishman move on, he could well find himself as a new back-up to Alisson.
And should he indeed follow that same pathway, who knows, perhaps he’d even be better-placed to take that final step with Liverpool’s number one that much older when Davies’ time could come.
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