Liverpool's Ben Doak is UNSTOPPABLE as desperate teams try new tactic to beat him

Scottish starlet winger Ben Doak is a massive talent on Liverpool's books.

In order to gain sufficient professional experience before he can enter Arne Slot's first team, he is currently playing on loan at Championship club Middlesbrough.

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In addition to lighting up the pitch at right wing under Boro manager Michael Carrick, Doak has also made a significant impression on Scottish national team manager Steve Clarke, who has grown increasingly fond of the 19-year-old.

During the last international break, Scotland played Croatia and Poland in two famous wins where Doak was front and centre of the action, most notably leaving Manchester City's Josko Gvardiol on skates.

In that instance, his form at Middlesbrough carried forth, after making three assists against Queens Park Rangers and Luton Town at the beginning of the month.

However, on the back of playing for his country, he is faced with a totally different prospect as teams think they have found his kryptonite.

How opposition teams are stopping Doak

Last night against Blackburn Rovers, Middlesbrough's three-game win streak came to an end, and while fans were left frustrated by their team's performance, they had plenty of sympathy for Doak.

In order to stop the winger - who many fans have dubbed 'the next Messi' - rival teams have started marking him with two or three players, essentially blocking off any attacking routes and limiting his ability to utilise his strengths - his dribbling.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Bob (@BobP9000) said: "Very weak left-sided tonight and Doak was marked out of the game, but Blackburn moved the ball much quicker than us."

In addition, Blackburn rovers fan club (@blackburnfcfans), said: "Love how fans blame one player, you're whole team were poor. You had one tactic and that's to pass it to Doak. He got marked out the game and you simply had nothing. Easy to make one player the scapegoat, 10 other players on that pitch."

And while Doak will usually breeze past any defender he likes at will, in an effort to cause as much carnage on the pitch as possible, things will not always go his way, and so it might be a steep learning curve for the young talent to learn.

Nonetheless, his ability on the ball has been incredibly impressive and the experience will help make him a much more valuable player to Arne Slot when he returns to the club from loan next season.

Doak has one goal and four assists for club and country so far.

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