BEN DOAK took another step towards becoming the new Braveheart of Anfield.
The 17 year-old winger, signed last year from Celtic for £600,000, played in the first half of what turned into a roller-coaster clash with Bundesliga II side Greuther Furth.
Jurgen Klopp looked grumpy after a second half collapse saw the Germans hit the net four times.
But Doak’s performance still gave the Liverpool boss further reason to smile in the belief that he has a future superstar on his hands.
Scotland under-21 Doak had Klopp singing his praises after starring in the second half of the Reds’ first warm – up game as part of a nine – day training camp in Germany.
He was one of a number of young hopefuls taking part in a 4-2 win over Karlsruher, the Anfield manager declaring : “Ben Doak, oh my God, it’s so much fun to watch these kids.”
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
In the build-up to this 4-4 draw he admitted that the ex-Hoops starlet continues to dazzle him.
He stressed : “Ben Doak, still 17, but he is just a joy to watch.
“With all the little struggles he has with losing the ball here & there, but the bravery, speed and the power is so cool to see.”
Klopp completely changed his team for the second half but Doak’s display again suggested he is on the way to making himself a Kop favourite.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
And he can already boast a red-letter day in his blossoming Anfield career.
He became the youngest Scottish player in Premier League history when going on as an 88th minute sub in the 3-1 Boxing Day win over Aston Villa.
He was aged 17 years and 45 days – smashing the previous record set by Nigel Quashie who made his debut for QPR against Manchester United in December 1995 aged 17 years and 163 days.
Now he is being touted as the player who will one day replace Mo Salah once the Egyptian superstar who last season signed a new mega-deal contract moves on three years from now.
Yet at his current rate of knots he might be rivalling him long before then.
And a window of opportunity will open for him in January when Salah heads off with his country to take part in the delayed African Cup of Nations.
Not that Salah, 31, is looking anything like he might have to worry too much about over any potential rival any time soon.
Having replaced Doak he delivered a brilliant reverse pass for Darwin Nunez to score Liverpool’s second goal in 50th minute.
And it was his touch that allowed the Uruguyan to power through and double his tally.
Salah also grabbed an 89th minute equaliser after Klopp’s all-change line-up found themselves trailing thanks to that second half surge from the small-town German side, encouraged by sloppy marking and defending.
New £60m signing Dominic Szoboszlai missed the friendly with a slight ankle injury.
Read More on The Sun
Klopp expects him to be fit for either of his side’s next pre-season clashes in Singapore against Leicester City then Bayern Munich.
Luis Diaz, also looking sharp, opened the scoring for Liverpool with a classy 22nd minute finish.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
