What Liverpool are expected to do with Ben Doak loan as youngster impresses for Middlesbrough

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Liverpool are looking quite light in all areas of the pitch as they prepare for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup clash with Brighton.

The Reds do not have a good recent record at the Amex Stadium and look set to rotate heavily for the game.

There’s only so much Arne Slot can change his team, though, with a clutch of injuries making the Liverpool squad look worryingly small.

So far, the biggest injury problems for Liverpool have come in their attack.

Federico Chiesa will not play against Brighton and has an unspecified return date, while Diogo Jota is out until after the November international break.

As a result, Slot does not have a lot of options to rotate his team for Wednesday’s game. Had he been around, Ben Doak would likely have featured in this one and it has now been examined whether the 18-year-old could return to Liverpool early.

Liverpool not expected to cut short Ben Doak loan

Doak has had a difficult year for Liverpool. The Scotland international had been expected to push on in 2023/24 after a breakthrough season but injuries held him back.

As a result, Doak was sent out on-loan to Championship side Middlesbrough in the hope of getting more regular game time.

So far, that has looked like a very good decision. The flying winger has forced his way into Michael Carrick’s starting line-up and even started twice for Scotland during the most recent international break.

Doak has been tearing up the Championship and Liverpool’s lack of forward options would make a return to Anfield attractive.

READ MORE: Liverpool’s Carabao Cup predicted XI vs Brighton as Arne Slot hands out two full debuts

However, according to The Northern Echo, there is ‘no expectation’ that Liverpool will look to bring Doak back early.

They claim that while Slot has been ‘delighted’ by the youngster’s form for Boro, it would take a ‘significant change in circumstances’ for the Dutchman to recall him.

This is currently described as being ‘extremely unlikely,’ with Doak set to stay at the Riverside Stadium for the full season.

Liverpool make right decision with Ben Doak

While it must be tempting for Slot to recall Doak at this juncture, there really isn’t a need to do so.

True, the former Celtic prospect could help hugely with Wednesday’s game with Brighton, but beyond that he would have been unlikely to feature too much.

The Northern Echo described his recent performances as ‘excellent’ for Boro and carry quotes from Carrick in which Doak is labelled ‘dangerous.’

With game time coming regularly, Doak will be developing far more than he ever would by sitting on the bench at Liverpool.

So, though it may be a slight pinch at the moment for the Reds, the long-term benefits of Doak getting a full year of weekly and bi-weekly football in the Championship make this the right decision.