Ex-Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has singled out Man City winger Jeremy Doku for praise following his outstanding performance against his former club.
The Belgian turned the game on its head after coming off the bench on Sunday, and speaking on The Overlap (in association with Sky Bet), Gerrard said that Doku would start for almost every other top-flight club:
“They’re just so strong, and then you see the bench, you see Jeremy Doku. I think Doku would walk into 99% of the teams in the Premier League.”
“I remember covering the FA Cup Final not so long ago. Doku was top drawer; to have him just to call on off the bench.”
Man City may not have won without Doku
The game was very even at 0-0 when the 24-year-old was sent on by head coach Enzo Maresca. He proceeded to win the foul that led to Ryan Gravenberch being sent off.
Doku subsequently played a key role in the first two goals, with his deflected cross landing at the feet of Erling Haaland for the opener, before scoring a delightful solo effort for the second.
There is a strong argument to make that without the Belgian, the match would have ended in a draw or even a defeat.
City’s squad depth is outstanding
As Gerrard points out, Maresca always has an option on the substitutes’ bench if he needs one to change the course of the game.
The Italian can call upon high-quality defenders, midfielders and wingers. Of course, the striker position is a concern. If Haaland does get injured, you do wonder how City would cope without him.
When you have a game-changer like Doku in reserve, though, it does give Maresca such a potent weapon.
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