Jeremy Doku further strengthened his reputation as one of the most exciting wingers in world football with a stunning performance in Manchester City’s 3–0 victory over Premier League titleholders Liverpool. The match could have had a completely different narrative if the Belgian had chosen Liverpool when the opportunity first came his way.
For the 74 minutes he was on the pitch, Doku ran riot against Arne Slot’s side, repeatedly getting the better of Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konaté. He earned a first-half penalty — which Erling Haaland missed — and later rounded off an exceptional outing by curling a brilliant finish past Giorgi Mamardashvili to put the game beyond doubt.
Once viewed as a talented but inconsistent player during his early years at the Etihad, Doku is now showing the elite potential many predicted during his youth. He has always possessed blistering pace and the ability to unsettle defenders, but now he has added consistent end product to match his skill.
Doku Never Regretted Rejecting Liverpool
Doku could easily have been lining up for Liverpool in that match. Jürgen Klopp tried to sign him in 2020 while he was still developing at Anderlecht. The youngster declined the offer — a decision he never came to regret.
In a 2021 interview with Het Nieuwsblad, Doku explained that he carefully evaluated his options before deciding:
> “I researched everything, listed the positives, and then made my choice. I knew I needed an intermediate step. A big club right away would’ve been too soon. Rennes was ideal for my development. And if Liverpool liked me at 15, they’ll come back later if I keep improving.”
During his visit to Liverpool’s training ground, Sadio Mané spoke with the teenager. Klopp was preparing for the future beyond Mané, Firmino, and Salah, but the conversation didn’t push Doku toward the move.
In another interview via Nieuwsblad and The Express, Mané said he simply encouraged Doku to take his time:
> “We talked a lot, not really about football. He told me I was still young and had time. He wasn’t trying to persuade me.”
Taking Mané’s advice, Doku stayed at Anderlecht before moving to Rennes the following year.
> “I knew what path I needed to follow,” he said. “At that moment, staying at Anderlecht was the right step.”
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