The One Change Which Has Turned Jeremy Doku From Average to Brilliant

The One Change Which Has Turned Jeremy Doku From Average to Brilliant

Jeremy Doku was absolutely excellent against Liverpool.

In fact, Jeremy Doku has been absolutely excellent all season.

From the beginning of the campaign, we've seen Manchester City return, after disappointment last year, with that ruthlessness and hunger to put teams to the sword which has categorised them for so long.

And in many ways, bar the Norwegian robot, of course, Doku has been the best performer on that side.

Take his goal in that dominant Liverpool win, for example. He received the ball on the edge of the box, jinked inside a flummoxed Konate with his notorious body feint and flop of the ankle, before curling a delicious effort past the outstretched gloves of Mamardashvili to cap off what had been a terrifying performance up to that point.

And, quite frankly, that is a pretty good snapshot of his entire season thus far.

Now you might be looking at the title and thinking it's a little harsh, and maybe so, but one look at his performances from last season and the difference really is night and day.

So what exactly is it that has changed for Jeremy Doku?

The Key That Unlocked The Door

Doku has always had the potential to be one of the world's best wingers.

Since his days at Anderlecht, he's been showing fullbacks levels with his devastating turn of pace, ability to come inside and go down the line, and the difficulty in knocking him off the ball.

But one major factor has always been missing from his game… Up until this season, that is.

One of the most important parts of football, especially as a wide man, is decision-making.

It's all well and good beating your man 20 times within the 90 minutes, but if you don't create any chances or contribute to any goals, did it really mean anything?

And that was Jeremy Doku's issue; the initial beating of his man has always been top, but the end product hasn't always matched that.

When he got into those positions to create something previously, it always felt a little panicked, a little rushed, and he struggled to put the initial work to good use.

But all of that seems to have shifted overnight.

Jeremy Doku vs Liverpool (H)

Incredible🪄pic.twitter.com/T1GFcWiHLb

— 𝓢𝓮𝓷𝓪 (@sena_comps) November 9, 2025

The most prominent change is that the speed at which he moves is now controlled chaos rather than outright unpredictability.

Doku has found a way to harness those explosive, technical traits that he has become so feared for into a much more controlled and deliberate game than we have seen from him in the past.

It is no longer a question of if he will create a chance for City, but when.

And that is more than reflected in the numbers. Doku has already created 23 chances in the Premier League this season, completing 34 successful dribbles.

In terms of output, he is currently having the best start to a season of his entire career, with five goals and four assists already registered.

Could he be the difference maker to win Man City yet another Premier League?

City's Most Useful Weapon?

Now of course, as I've mentioned, Erling Haaland throws a spanner in the works of the header statement being true.

But there is an argument to say Doku is the most unique, and possibly useful, weapon in City's arsenal.

How many of the top sides, not only in the Premier League but in the world, can you name who have a player like Jeremy Doku?

Well, no matter what your opinion is, I guarantee you can count them on one hand.

“Don’t ever say to yourself, ‘I got all this wealth by my own power and ability.’ Remember the Lord your God is the one who gives you power to do these things. He does this because he wants to keep the agreement that he made with your ancestors, as he is doing today!”… pic.twitter.com/QTVW1YkiT3

— Jeremy Doku (@JeremyDoku) November 10, 2025

The acceleration over a couple of yards from the Belgian is almost otherworldly. His versatility in take-ons paired with his relentless nature to torture his opposing player for the full 90 means that he's almost guaranteed to fashion a chance at some point even in his worst game.

This season is set up to be a tough title fight, and City know better than anyone that it takes a little bit of magic to get over the line.

Pair Haaland's goals with Doku's newfound creative output, and City may well have found the spark they need to reach the footballing summit once again.