Jeremy Doku didn’t need any hype or build up this week. Anyone who watched Manchester City’s win over Liverpool, which was reported by Softfootball, could see he was on a different level, and the fans basically confirmed it by voting him Player of the Matchweek for Matchweek 11 as confirmed by the Premier League and also Manchester City via their official X account.
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It felt almost obvious in the end. He was the one turning the match into a problem for Liverpool from the first minute, and by full time, nobody was really arguing about who had stood out.
His display against the defending Premier League champions had that feeling of a player who was completely switched on. Every time he picked up the ball, Liverpool’s back line seemed to back up a little too quickly, almost like they knew what was coming but couldn’t do much to stop it. Then came the goal. A sharp, confident solo run followed by a clean finish that wrapped up the 3-0 win for Pep Guardiola, who just reached a milestone of 1000 games as a manager, as reported by Softfootball recently. It looked like the kind of goal produced by a player enjoying himself and seeing the game clearly.
The numbers behind his performance were just as strong as the eye test suggested. Doku led the match with three shots on target, three created chances, 11 duels won, and 11 touches inside the box. He pulled off seven successful take-ons, drew four fouls, and even worked back to win the ball five times. It’s rare to see a winger hit that many different categories, but he managed it without looking forced.
Fans across the league seemed to agree with what they’d seen. In a poll with eight nominees, Doku collected 40 percent of the votes. Sunderland defender Dan Ballard finished second with 21 percent, while Chelsea’s Alejandro Garnacho followed closely with 20 percent.
Even with a strong list of candidates, Doku’s impact stood out the most. For a 23-year-old still adjusting to a squad stacked with quality, he already looks like someone City rely on more than they expected this early. And judging by the way he played against Liverpool, that reliance might only grow from here.
