Jeremy Doku delivered a decisive display on the flank to help propel Manchester City to a 0-3 victory against Liverpool at Anfield, prompting former goalkeeper Frank Boeckx to highlight how internal competition with rising talents like Mika Godts will shape the winger’s role with the Belgian national team.
Anfield Return and a Chance Encounter
Boeckx crossed paths with Doku in the player tunnel before Manchester City’s warm-up at Anfield. Working as an analyst for Play Sports while attending as a Liverpool supporter, Boeckx caught up with the winger after injuries forced him to miss previous international fixtures. Boeckx recounted their brief conversation in the HLN Voetbalpodcast, noting that Doku immediately confirmed he felt fully fit. The former Anderlecht goalkeeper joked that he forgot to tell the attacker he did not need to prove anything on the pitch, given his own loyalties to the Merseyside club.
Manchester City Capitalizes on Red Card
The turning point of the fixture arrived when Liverpool was reduced to ten men following the red card shown to Ryan Gravenberch. Boeckx pointed to that dismissal as the gamechanger that unsettled the home defense. Doku exploited the resulting space and defensive uncertainty on the flank, playing a direct role in three goals during the Premier League clash and illustrating the exact brand of danger Manchester City anticipated when securing his transfer.
Competition From Mika Godts at International Level
Looking ahead to upcoming fixtures with the Belgian national team, Boeckx argued that Doku will face heightened internal pressure from emerging attacking options. Performances by players such as Mika Godts and Malick Fofana have not gone unnoticed within the squad. Boeckx stated that this rising competition should serve as a positive motivator for Doku, pushing a player known for a resilient mindset since his youth academy days at Anderlecht to cement his status as a core pillar for the Red Devils.
Related reading
