Ben Doak: Profile, playing style, scouting report

The 17-year-old has played three Premier League matches

Ben Doak is only 17 years old, but the young winger has already played for the first team at both Celtic and Liverpool and has represented Scotland at the Under-21 level. Doak was signed in the summer transfer window of 2022 from Celtic.

The 17-year-old was already a rising star back in Scotland and was a transfer target for several clubs. But, instead, he chose to join Liverpool, and till now, the move appears to have paid off. Doak plays like a kid who’s been brought up on street football, but there’s just something extra about the way he drops a shoulder and glides around his man. Something that screams streets of Brazil, not England. Something that suggests Liverpool already has their next Mo Salah.

Past Experience

Doak was eight years old when he was spotted by Ayr United, whose scout, Raymond Pattison, His time at Ayr was short-lived, with Celtic swooping in to sign the forward. He was sent to the youth sides but, within 16 months, would get his big break as he was named on the bench for Celtic’s match against St. Johnstone. His debut would come just a month later when he played the final 22 minutes of the game against Dundee United.

The youngster was also called up to the under-17 squad for the Scotland national football team that season. Ben Doak played six matches in the 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifying. The teenager was impressive throughout the campaign and helped his nation qualify for the 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.

Stats

Doak has represented Scotland at U-16, U-17 and U-21, for the U-17 team he has scored four goals in nine appearances and for the U-21 team played four matches and scored one goal. He also played in Premier League 2 where he scored four goals and provided two assists in thirteen games. Played for Liverpool's U-18 and U-21 teams, While playing for the U-21 team he scored five goals and had two assists to his name in fourteen appearances.

Ben Doak's playing style

There is no doubt that Doak's Number one attribute is his ability to run with the ball and beat players. He is something of a throwback, in that he is a right-footer who prefers to play on the right, going past defenders on the outside and getting to the byline or into the penalty area. Doak has tons of pace but is not entirely dependent on it. He also uses his intelligence and impeccable passing to carve open the defence.

The teenager is also adept at delivering crosses from the wings, which he uses to devastating effect. He is ultra direct, in that regard, always looking to play forwards, and happy to mix it physically when necessary. Doak is also brilliant at making well-timed runs behind the opposition’s line that beat even the best set of offside traps. His finishing is good, off either foot but mainly the right and his acceleration over short distances enables him to zoom away from opponents, who inevitably resort to fouling him as games go on.

Similar types of players

He is very similar to his Liverpool teammates Luis Diaz and Mohammed Salah. He has a beautiful first touch, an eye for goal and excellent dribbling skills just like Diaz and Salah. Doak is a mobile, hard-working and tactical player, with good technique, his ability to use both his pace and flair on the ball in order to beat opponents and create scoring opportunities for himself or his teammates is very similar to Salah.