Liverpool have made ‘statement’ after Ben Doak footage emerges – pundit

Paul Robinson has claimed Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp made “a statement” by handing Ben Doak his Premier League debut against Aston Villa.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Spurs and England number one said the 17-year-old has “a very bright future” at Anfield.

Doak was handed his Premier League debut at Villa Park on Monday (26 December).

As shown on Twitter (26 December), the teenage winger impressed after replacing Darwin Nunez in the dying stages and even made a mug of Lucas Digne with one eyecatching piece of skill.

The Reds went on to beat Aston Villa 3-1 and close the gap on fourth-placed Spurs.

When asked by Football Insider for his assessment of Doak’s league debut for the Reds, Robinson said: “It is a statement from the manager.

“It shows what Klopp thinks of him. He has only just come south of the border and is already being given a chance in the first team.

“It was not as if the game against Villa was done and dusted. A goal could have changed things very quickly. There was life in the game but Klopp trusted him. That says a lot.

“Klopp clearly thinks very highly of him. I think he has a very bright future ahead of him.

“He is one of many at Liverpool. [Harvey] Elliott, [Curtis] Jones and [Fabio] Carvalho have all been given game time. Klopp is not afraid to use them. Doak look like another great youngster in the stable.”

In other news, an ex-Premier League referee has claimed Jordan Henderson has ‘crossed the line’ as controversial Liverpool footage emerges.