When Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku lit up the Etihad Stadium in a 3–0 demolition of Liverpool, few could have imagined how close he once came to wearing the red shirt himself.
The Belgian winger’s blistering pace and ruthless finishing tore through Arne Slot’s defence, leaving Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konaté chasing shadows.
It was a performance that not only underlined his growing influence at City but also highlighted a story of what might have been.
For 74 electrifying minutes, Doku dominated the contest. He drew a first-half penalty—one that Erling Haaland surprisingly failed to convert—before curling home a sublime third goal past Giorgi Mamardashvili to seal victory for Pep Guardiola’s side.
The display was yet another sign that the 22-year-old has come of age, finally matching his devastating speed with composure and end product.
Yet, long before his City breakthrough, Liverpool had tried to bring the youngster to Anfield but Jeremy Doku rejected a move to Liverpool.
Jürgen Klopp saw in Doku a raw, unpredictable wide player who could one day succeed the celebrated trio of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane. The German was eager to secure him early, but Doku had other ideas.
“I knew it was too soon” – Doku on why he rejected a move to Liverpool
Back in 2020, when Doku was still developing at Anderlecht, Liverpool came calling.
A personal visit to Merseyside followed, complete with a tour of the club’s state-of-the-art facilities and a meeting with Klopp himself.
But while many teenagers would have jumped at the chance to join one of Europe’s elite sides, Doku rejected a move to Liverpool and his decision was shaped by something more than excitement.
Speaking to Het Nieuwsblad in 2021, he recalled the moment he had to choose between a dream move and his own development.
“I did a lot of research first, wrote down all the positive points and only then did I make a decision,” he said.
“I knew that I first wanted to make an intermediate step. Going to a top club now would be too soon. I still have a lot to learn, and Rennes is the ideal place for that.”
That “intermediate step” led him to French side Rennes, where he continued to mature as both a footballer and a person.
It was in Ligue 1 that Doku honed the attributes—directness, close control, and sharp decision-making—that now make him one of the Premier League’s most feared attackers.
And, far from regretting his decision, he maintained a sense of perspective. “As soon as I’m asked if I regret it, I always say no,” Doku explained.
“Because if Liverpool came to me at 15, if they like me, they’ll come back later, that’s certain. It’s up to me to play well.”
That patience and self-awareness have become hallmarks of Doku’s journey. He didn’t just rely on talent—he relied on timing.
Perhaps the most striking twist in Doku’s story was the role of Sadio Mane, then a Liverpool star and one of Klopp’s trusted forwards.
During Doku’s visit, Mane took time to speak with him, offering a glimpse of life at the top level.
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Klopp’s long-term plan had been to gradually refresh his attacking line, with Doku viewed as a natural successor to the Senegalese winger.
But the conversation between the two Africans didn’t go as Liverpool might have hoped.
Doku’s choice to play in Ligue 1 proved crucial. It allowed him to grow without the constant spotlight of a Premier League giant.
By the time Manchester City came knocking in 2023, he was ready—both technically and mentally—for the demands of top-flight football.
Now under Pep Guardiola, Doku’s evolution has been striking. Initially criticised for inconsistency during his first seasons in Manchester, he has begun to add the kind of precision and end product that separates good wingers from great ones.
His latest showing against Liverpool—his would-be former club—felt symbolic, almost poetic.
