Jeremy Doku has a way of haunting defenders’ dreams, and Sunday’s Premier League clash proved it yet again.
Just days after Conor Bradley kept Vinicius Junior in check at Anfield, Doku turned the tables, leaving Bradley scrambling for answers at the Etihad.
The Manchester City winger didn’t just score a stunner into the top corner for 3-0; he showed he’s now a central weapon in Pep Guardiola’s evolving City side.
For a player often criticised for a lack of end product, Sunday was a statement: Doku is finally delivering consistently.
Dribbling Like No One Else
Few players in the Premier League carry the ball with the frequency and success of Doku.
Sunday marked the 13th occasion he attempted 10 or more dribbles in a single game since arriving in England—a record unmatched by anyone in the same period.
Even at 10 dribbles against Liverpool, he was far from his personal best.
Last season, he completed 21 against the same opponents, the most in a single Premier League match since 2019.
And it’s not just quantity—Doku’s dribbles succeed more often than anyone else who has taken on opponents over 160 times since his debut season.
Double-teamed by Bradley and Ryan Gravenberch, he still found ways through, carrying the ball closer to goal and creating scoring opportunities.
According to Opta, he dominates progressive carries—moving the ball at least five metres upfield—with 13 of the top 20 performances by a forward since his Premier League debut.
Guardiola’s Tactical Shift Elevates Doku
This season, Guardiola has given Doku the freedom to roam, a significant change from his usually strict tactical framework.
With full backs like Nico O’Reilly and summer signing Rayan Ait-Nouri pushing forward, Doku can drift centrally or out wide, pulling defenders and creating space for teammates.
Against Liverpool, the pair constantly switched positions.
Doku would charge centrally while O’Reilly underlapped, or drift wide to draw defenders away.
Bradley, left largely unsupported, struggled to cope.
This fluidity makes City’s attack less predictable and far more dangerous.
Doku thrives with this liberty. “If I get freedom I’m not going to say no,” he told reporters.
“Getting inside, getting outside, go where the ball is.
It makes it unpredictable for the opponents, so I like it.”
Breaking Teams Down in Tight Spaces
Doku’s ability to carry the ball and beat multiple opponents solves a growing problem for Guardiola.
Opponents now press higher and more intelligently, but Doku can turn defence into attack almost instantly.
When City were crowded near their own corner flag, he received the ball surrounded by three Liverpool players.
With a quick drop of the shoulder and a precise pass to Nico Gonzalez, he freed his teammates and ignited a counter-attack.
Doku is a threat at both ends of the pitch, stretching and destabilising defences with his movement and dribbling.
Improved Finishing Makes Him Complete
Perhaps the biggest change this season is Doku’s improved end product.
He hired a personal analyst over the summer to refine his decision-making in the final third, and the results were evident.
Against Liverpool, he became the first player since Eden Hazard in 2019 to score while also completing seven dribbles, winning at least 10 duels, creating three chances, and registering three shots on target in a single Premier League match.
Guardiola has worked with him on shooting technique, focusing on body positioning to generate more power.
The top-corner goal Sunday demonstrated that the lessons are paying off.
A Player Still Hungry to Improve
At just 23, Doku is far from reaching his peak.
“I feel like I just have confidence,” he said after the match.
“I’m happy that now I can deliver the way I want to play without any fear or doubt, just full confidence.
I hope I can still improve my finishing, my movements in the box, my decision-making, my awareness.
A lot. I’m an unfinished product, and I hope with these teammates and a very good coach like Pep, I can still improve.”
If Sunday’s performance is anything to go by, Manchester City—and the Premier League—are witnessing a player coming into his own, blending raw talent with growing tactical intelligence and deadly executi