Jeremy Doku has both thrilled and frustrated fans at the Etihad since joining Manchester City. His fearless, direct dribbling electrifies the crowd, only for his final ball to sometimes undo the excitement he just created.
That said, the Belgian winger has begun to find consistency for both club and country. While his return of one goal and three assists in nine appearances for City may not leap off the page, his overall performances suggest growing reliability in chances created and their overall performances.
Erling Haaland remains the biggest threat to Everton’s hopes, but Doku could be considered a close second, especially if he targets what many see as a key weakness in Everton’s setup.
Everton's vulnerability lies in the full-back areas. Jake O’Brien, more comfortable as a central defender, has been forced to operate wider, while his potential replacements, Seamus Coleman and Nathan Patterson, are either hampered by injury, age, or a lack of Premier League-level quality.
With Iliman Ndiaye likely to shift to the left flank in Jack Grealish’s absence, David Moyes must prioritise selecting a winger or attacking midfielder willing to work defensively as much as offensively. The Irish defender will need consistent support to avoid being left one-on-one with Jeremy Doku, a scenario that strongly favours the Belgian.
Pep Guardiola’s growing reliance on Doku this season is clear. The winger has started six of City’s last eight league games, his form driven by rhythm and confidence. His dribbling numbers highlight his threat as he boasts a take-on success rate of over 50% and is currently the only player across Europe’s top five leagues averaging more than 11 dribbles per 90 minutes.
David Moyes knows all about the Belgian winger. His eye-catching display in a friendly once convinced the West Ham boss to pursue him at Rennes, only for the player to end up at Manchester City, where he later tormented Moyes’ side at the London Stadium.
Now, with the winger set to start this weekend, Everton must be alert to his threat on the left and his dangerous understanding with Erling Haaland.
Yet, after a string of disciplined defensive showings under Moyes, the Toffees will fancy their chances of keeping him quiet, and maybe even snatching a vital win.