"Up there with Vinicius Junior" - Ben Doak tipped for big Liverpool FC future amid Middlesbrough spell | OneFootball

The talented winger has made quite the impression on loan at the Riverside so far this season.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Ben Doak's rise to stardom in the Championship has been extremely quick, and there are very few that possess the talents that the Scottish winger has in the second tier currently.

Currently on loan at Middlesbrough from Liverpool, the recently turned 19-year-old has become a key member of Michael Carrick's starting XI at the Riverside Stadium, and he is proving to be a real handful for full-backs across the division.

His skills, which are now very well known to those who keep a keen eye on the Championship, were put on show to not only Europe but the rest of the world itself over the weekend, as he starred for Scotland against both Croatia and Poland.

However, while he has started to prove himself over the last few months, greater conversations about his future at Liverpool will start in the new year, and whether he has the quality to make that step up for the Premier League giants.

Doak, Liverpool prediction made

With one goal and three assists to his name in 10 matches, Doak is slowly starting to get more and more involved with the numbers of goals that his team are scoring. His manager at his parent club, Arne Slot, will be taking note of his performances ready for the start of next season.

The 19-year-old has experience in the first team already at Anfield, making 10 appearances following his debut in the Carabao Cup against Derby County in November 2022 in a cameo role.

However, with the change in manager since last season at Liverpool, there will be questions over whether he can break into the squad on his return. However, for Football League World's Middlesbrough Fan Pundit, Jasper Hudson, there is no doubt that he could play a part.

When asked if he believes Doak has a big future with the Reds, he said: "There's absolutely no reason why Ben Doak can't have a big future at Liverpool, or even beyond that with whatever top club I'm sure he'll end up playing for.

"Statistically, he ranks up there with Vinicius Junior and others as the best in the world with his carries into the box per 90 and you can just tell he's beating Championship defenders with ease.

"Even on the international stage for Scotland recently, getting past Gvardiol in a clip that's been going around on Twitter. So, he's clearly got plenty of ability and the biggest attribute is his confidence."

Jasper continued: "He's never shying away from trying to beat a man, but he also doesn't abuse his best skill, and he's clever enough to realise when to do it and when not. Which I think is another huge attribute, which is why he will, in my opinion, go further than players like Adama Traore, who have all the ability to beat a player but aren't always as intelligent on when to do it.

"There's no reason why Doak can't be a top player at Liverpool or for whatever big team he ends up joining. He has speed, skill, footballing intelligence, and he is clinical in front of goal, and he just creates goal-scoring chances.

"It can all come from nothing, just a simple ball out wide, and then next thing you know, he's beating his man, and he's drilling the ball across into the box or laying it back.

"His deliveries into the box are always really good and that shows with some of the assists he's got this season, picking out players in the box and knowing what type of delivery, whether it's low, a cut back or fired across goal – he is a really, really talented player."

Doak's statistics speak for themselves

There are few wingers in the Championship as dominant on the ball as Doak, with the Scottish ace a consistent threat for Middlesbrough on the right flank.

He is not often dispossessed, losing the ball only seven times, completing 23 dribbles in just 10 games in the league, as per FotMob. It is this ability to get up and down the wing that ensures that he can create chances for his teammates, and although he has only three assists at the moment, that is sure to increase greatly in the coming months.

Similarly, Doak's goal tally will only rise as he becomes more confident in front of goal, with his xG an indication that he is perhaps slightly underperforming in that one sense. His rate of 2.52 compared to his actual figure of one shows that he still has room to improve, but that is expected at his young age.

Liverpool will be looking forward to his return at the end of the season, and after his explosive start at Middlesbrough, there is no doubt that in the next few years he can and will play a key role in the Premier League.