Liverpool wonderkid PROVES next Messi claims after INCREDIBLE performance
By
Will Comish
Will Comish
Liverpool's academy has been producing incredibly talented young players for years.
Starting their careers featuring for the youth teams, some progress straight into the first team, while others go out on loan to learn their trade.
But a select few players even manage to break into their international teams before they begin their professional senior careers.
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In this microcosm, we find the 19-year-old Scottish winger Ben Doak, who Liverpool have on loan at Middlesbrough.
Known for his raw pace and dribbling ability, Doak has managed to creep into his country's national team.
Doak tipped to be the 'next Messi'
Registering three assists in his last two appearances for Middlesbrough, Doak's loan move has already proved to be a success, allowing him to get regular game time, and fully express himself on the pitch.
Leading the charts for most dribbles and most chances for his team, per FotMob, his skills are clear for all to see.
Taking to social media, some fans of the Boro called him 'the new Messi', with others claiming he could exceed the legacy of Sir Kenny Dalglish, amidst a range of other superlatives for the Scottish talent.
His fellow teammate Tommy Conway spoke out last week about his admiration of Doak and said: "I can't say enough about him. He's what he is like on the pitch, off it as well.
"He's electric, he's always at it, the boy. Hopefully, we can take that onto the international stage and cause carnage there as well."
And this week, he was back at it alongside Conway for Scotland, and indeed carnage was caused.
Doak tears Gvardiol to shreds
Faced with a matchup against Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol in Scotland's Nations League win over Croatia, Doak took to his task like a duck to water.
He won three ground duels, managed two successful dribbles and had 100% accuracy with his long balls.
Speaking about the contest to Teesside Live after the game, he said: "Gvardiol's one of the best in the world, isn't he? So it's good to test yourself against players of that calibre. We both had our moments when we got the better of each other, but I've loved both games against him.
"When I went past him early in the first half I didn't realise it had gone through his legs, I just flicked it and hoped it'd come out the other side, which it did. We were unfortunate not to score from that one, but it was another moment I enjoyed.
"I don't see faces on the park, I just see a kit and a blank face. I don't take notice of reputations. I just believe that if I'm good enough to be on the pitch then I should be up to whoever I'm against."
The last player to embarrass the Croatian defender was Lionel Messi - the man Doak is actively being compared to - and with such a focused mindset, Doak is playing with complete freedom on the pitch.
At just 19 years old, this is a remarkable feat for the winger, and should his career trajectory continue to skyrocket, Liverpool will have one hell of an asset on their hands when he returns from loan.
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