A number of Liverpool’s international players were in action for their countries on Friday as Ben Doak shone for Scotland and Darwin Nunez got the better of Luis Diaz
Ben Doak starred for Scotland as they secured an historic win over Croatia on Friday night, while Darwin Nunez got the better of Luis Diaz as another 10 Liverpool players were involved in international action. The Reds youngster, who is currently on loan at Middlesbrough, was named man of the match after helping set up John McGinn’s late winner.
Andy Robertson, Conor Bradley and Wataru Endo were also in action for their countries, as well as Tyler Morton, Stefan Bajcetic, Kaide Gordon and Rio Ngumoha at youth level.
With Doak not the only player to impress, the ECHO rounds up how all of Liverpool’s internationals got on…
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Ben Doak
Doak has been handed plenty of plaudits after his eye-catching display in Scotland’s win over Croatia. He left Man City star Josko Gvardiol for dead time and time again, with one such run ultimately leading to the winning goal. Later withdrawn in stoppage-time, he was afforded a standing ovation at Hampden Park.
BBC Scotland’s Tom English would report how, ‘Scotland’s human blur Doak left £77m man in daze’ as he ‘stole the show’ from Luka Modric.
He wrote: At the end, it was the re-emergence of an old goalscoring hero in John McGinn that lit up the Hampden night, but in every other sense this was the dawning of the age of Doak.
“Young Ben, 19, fearless and flying down Scotland’s right, against Josko Gvardiol, the renowned £77m man from Manchester City. No contest.
“The margin of Scotland’s victory was tight. The margin of Doak’s superiority was vast.
“Doak was electrifying long before the endgame. The Liverpool teenager, on loan at Middlesbrough, was a whirling dervish, a human blur taking the fight to Croatia…
“Doak, not Modric, was now the most interesting character out there. By a distance…
“The next time Doak got it was the marvellous moment of mayhem that saw Scotland score. Poor, persecuted Gvardiol was left without a name again by Doak. He thundered an effort at Kotarski, who parried to McGinn. Goal.”
Football.Scotland would rate Doak at 7/10 in their player ratings, saying: “The brightest spark on a rather dull night. One turn in particular in the opening 45 got everyone out of their seats. Only 19 years old… he can’t do it all alone. Played a vital part in the winning goal too.”
Meanwhile, he was given an 8/10 by the Edinburgh Evening News as they wrote: “Got in behind Gvardiol for the first time after 18 mins, teeing up McTominay’s chance. Involved in most of Scotland’s positive attacking play and always looked to torment. Volleyed Gauld’s cross inches wide. Trickery forced the keeper into a save which led to McGinn’s goal. Subbed.”
Doak was awarded a 9/10 by the Scotsman, as they said of his performance: “His cheeky turn and nutmeg of Josko Gvardiol midway through the first half acted as a catalyst for Scotland to be more attack-minded. His searing pace and direct running proved torturous for Croatia – particularly for the £78million Man City star Gvardiol – down the down the right flank and he was by far and away Scotland’s most threatening player. Blazed over from close range but more than redeemed himself with the cross that led to the opener. Such an exciting player to watch.”
And the Herald also gave the teenager an 8, writing: “This young man is going to be some player. What better way to atone for a rather meek start where Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol got the better of him? Nick around him with an audacious backheel flick and run off him. That certainly got the sleepy crowd on their feet. Showed his outstanding technical ability a short while later as he turned Gvardiol again. Had to do better with his failed cross for Conway on 53 minutes. A poor final ball. He didn’t stop trying though, as he continued to pester on the right wing, getting to the byline and crossing the ball, while also working hard for the team in tracking back. He beat his man to get the cross in which caused the goal.”
Andy Robertson
While Doak shone for Scotland, Robertson endured a more mixed night. The Tartan Army captain completed the full 90 minutes in the win and helped keep a clean sheet.
But it was reported that his final ball wasn’t up to its normally high standards against Croatia.
While the Scotsman would give him an 8/10 and Football.Scotland rated him at 7/10 – writing that he ‘led the side well’, both the Edinburgh Evening News and the Herald as they both had Robertson down at 6/10.
“You’d expect better from a player of his quality,” wrote the latter.
Conor Bradley
Bradley captained Northern Ireland during the October international break, but he was not afforded the same responsibility against Belarus on Friday night. That is no slant on the Liverpool youngster though, with manager Michael O’Neill continuing to rotate the armband during the Nations League campaign.
It did not stop the right-back from again impressing for his country as they ran out 2-0 winners at Windsor Park.
Withdrawn in injury-time with the result in the bag, BelfastLive rated Bradley at 7/10 as they wrote: “Helped set the tempo with his marauding runs forward.”
Meanwhile, he was given an 8/10 by the Belfast Telegraph as they reported: “Positioned in a rangy, attacking right wing back role, the Liverpool ace drove forward well to try and stretch the ‘White Wings’ in different areas of the pitch. A standing ovation from the Green and White Army at the climax. Tireless.”
Wataru Endo
The midfielder played the full 90 minutes for Japan as they claimed a 4-0 success away at Indonesia in the third round of Asia’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Darwin Nunez
Nunez helped Uruguay claim a dramatic 3-2 victory over Colombia as Manuel Ugarte netted a stoppage-time winner in the 101st minute after Andres Gomez appeared to have earned a share of the spoils for the visitors five minutes earlier after a lengthy VAR review.
National daily El Pais described the striker as ‘the most involved’ player in his team’s attack, as he had three shots on goal but only won four of his 11 duels.
Meanwhile, he was only rated 5/10 by El Observador, they still actually praised the Liverpool striker’s hard-working performance.
They wrote: “He won from above in the first corner he defended. He pressed with power and ferocity. He threw himself out wide, he lent himself to being assisted. He persisted. He had no chances. He took a dangerous free kick at the end of the first half. He created the foul and kicked well. It was saved. In the second half he fought, he shot wide and was a bastion of effort, without any chances to score.”
The win that moved Uruguay above Colombia into second place in the South American qualification section for the 2026 World Cup.
Luis Diaz
Diaz captained Colombia in Montevideo, starting upfront alongside Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran as they fell to a last-gasp defeat.
It appears the forward endured an off-night for his country as El Heraldo gave him a 5/10 after and claimed he ‘looked tired’.
They wrote: “He was not at his best. Discreet on his side, only winning in some individual duels. He looked tired.”
The Rest…
Tyler Morton started for England Under-21s as they drew 0-0 with Spain in a friendly in La Linea. He played 78 minutes for the Young Lions, Stefan Bajcetic was introduced at half-time by the hosts.
Elsewhere, Kaide Gordon completed an hour of England Elite League Squad’s 4-0 win over Germany, while Rio Ngumoha played 74 minutes of the Under-17s’ 1-1 draw at Belgium.
