It took less than 60 seconds for Trent Alexander-Arnold's torment to start.
And dishing out the pain and suffering was Jeremy Doku. The Liverpool defender hadn't touched the ball, but he was in the game whether he liked it or not. That's because it was at the dazzling feet of Doku.
For a long time a Belgian has ruled the roost at the Etihad, to help inspire Manchester City's domination of English football. But Kevin De Bruyne now has company, in the shape of a fellow countryman who has the potential to do just the same for years to come.
READ MORE: Pep Guardiola risks wrath of Man City fans again with noise comment after Liverpool draw
READ MORE: Man City fans fume 'football is finished' after disallowed goal against Liverpool
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The millions around the world who tuned in to watch this clash between first and second in the Premier League must have been thanking their lucky stars Doku was out there. The game became so flat, Pep Guardiola was forced to whip up home supporters before the hour mark, in a bid to breathe some life into proceedings.
But Doku needed no encouraging. He only joined City in the summer in a £55m deal from Stade Rennais, but already looks part of the expensive furniture City have. Doku is old school, like a throwback to the flying wingers of the 1970s and 80s who earned a living from leaving defenders on their backsides.
A bloke with more magic tricks than Paul Daniels on steroids. Guardiola builds teams with discipline and structure, but the Spaniard has brought in Doku and let him off the leash.
What was your reaction to the draw between Manchester City and Liverpool? Let us know in the comment section below
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There is a hum of excited anticipation each time the ball goes to him. Which in this case, was quite often. No-one seems to know what's going to happen when he has possession.
Heck, it's doubtful even Doku does, so what chance do opponents like Alexander-Arnold have? Doku, who is just 21, whipped in a cross having shimmied inside, which Kostas Tsimikas was at full stretch to clear. He then blazed past Alexander-Arnold before firing a ball into the six yard box which threatened to cause carnage for the Liverpool defence.
When he wasn't having kittens, Alisson was left wondering where the next problem was coming from. From himself, that's where, when he tried to find Mo Salah with a long clearance but shanked it to Nathan Ake, who danced through the opposition before slipping Erling Haaland through for the opening goal.
But the spotlight continued to shine on Doku, who cut inside (again), before seeing his shot deflected wide for a corner. It was unrelenting. Moments later Doku was blitzing straight down the middle of the pitch, leaving red shirts flagging in his slipstream. When the half time whistle blew, Alexander-Arnold hoofed the ball high into the sky.
He must have been looking forward to a breather in the dressing room. But moments into the second half it was Alexis Mac Allister's turn to feel the wind of Doku blow past him when the winger blitzed round the outside. He pulled back his cross for Julian Alvarez, who should have doubled City's lead but fired high and wide.
Jet-healed speed is a commodity which remains priceless in football – and Doku has loads of the stuff. His talent is still raw and there is much to learn.
He's like a box of chocolates, no-one is sure what they're going to get. Doku even runs like Forest Gump, too. But there is no better teacher than Guardiola, who has a rough diamond on his hands he will polish into an absolute gem.
It was just a shame he didn't finish on the winning side, because he deserved to after creating chances his team-mates chose to squander. It was also down to the fact a certain Alexander-Arnold somehow found an equaliser, to redeem himself and remind us where his real talent lies.
But while the England ace might have had the last laugh, he knows there's not much fun to be had when Doku is around.
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