“He Ticks All The Boxes” – Liverpool Youngster ‘Making A Difference’ On Loan In Europe | OneFootball

Written by Mark Strickland

Fabio Schaub from the podcast Die Beste Liga der Welt (The Best League In The World) has praised Stefan Bajcetic for his performances this season whilst on loan away from Anfield looking to regain match sharpness.

Bajcetic, 20, joined former Liverpool assistant manager Pep Ljinders’ Austrian Bundesliga team Red Bull Salzburg on a season-long loan on transfer deadline day in August.

He has so far made 11 appearances with Ljinders somewhat controversially giving him and Bobby Clark their first start in the 3-0 Champions League defeat at Sparta Prague.

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Schaupp said: “I’ve got the feeling when he’s on the pitch, he’s making a difference. He’s one of the better players at the moment.

“He’s helping the team a lot in the build-up. He’s calm on the ball. When he plays, he makes the team better.

“I would put him over Bobby Clark because he has found a position. He’s playing as a central defensive midfielder.

“Bobby Clark was tried as a number eight, as a winger, in many different positions.”

“He has so much quality on the ball. He’s calm on the ball. He’s such an intelligent player. He has a good passing game, so he ticks all the boxes. He hardly loses the ball.

“[The] centre-backs went wide and he tried to put the game on his feet which was smart. [He] was taking the ball and trying to make something.”

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Away to Newcastle in the 2022-23 season, he got on the ball and started the Reds’ team goal of the season, finished by Cody Gakpo.

He positioned himself between centre-backs Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk, received the ball from the latter, and carried it midway into the attacking half.

Schaupp added: “You need those glue players on the pitch who keep all these things together and I think he can be one of those because he’s technically so strong.

“I think he can play a crucial role.”

‘He Can Play A Crucial Role’ – Austrian Expert On Stefan Bajcetic At Red Bull Salzburg

Stefan Bajcetic: Profile

At Liverpool, Bajcetic ‘burst onto the scene’, nutmegging Tyrone Mings with a left-footed finish to secure victory away to Aston Villa on Boxing Day 2022.

The Spanish midfielder had already assumed responsibility, taking the Reds’ first penalty in a Carabao Cup third-round shootout success at Anfield against Derby County.

Strikingly, he played with his socks rolled down – just like Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher – personifying his youthful fearlessness and confidence. He was ready for war.

He had a maturity beyond his years and an old head on young shoulders, but several challenges were to follow.

Starting in the heavy 5-2 Champions League round-of-16 first-leg home defeat to Real Madrid, he looked, understandably, out of his depth.

This was the first time and, as an 18-year-old, he never should have been in that position against greats Toni Kroos and replacement Luka Modric.

His breakout season ended prematurely after he suffered an adductor injury – bad news as he had been the Reds’ shining light in a tough season.

Praise came with some caution because his good performances were incongruous. After all, all the Reds’ other midfielders’ legs had gone.

Indeed, captain Jordan Henderson and Fabinho were sold to Saudi Pro League clubs, and James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita were released that summer.

He was restricted to only three appearances last season – one start and two as a substitute, totalling just 115 minutes.

This was partly due to growing pains and Liverpool were keen to control his minutes, not too many, too young.

Correspondingly, growing pains kept attacker Kaide Gordon out for over a year-and-a-half before his return for Liverpool U21s last season.

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His only start came in the first Europa League group stage game away to LASK in which he started in an unfamiliar right-back position and was withdrawn after an hour.

A home Carabao Cup third-round tie against Leicester City was a clear opportunity for him to start, but he was only a 79th-minute substitute.

Eight months later, he replaced Waturo Endo – the then first choice no.6 – in the 64th minute of a 4-2 home victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

He was expected to be back around the team this season, but there was a dilemma regarding three midfielders: Bajcetic, Bobby Clark and Tyler Morton.

Clark was sold to Red Bull Salzburg for £10 million, Bajcetic would soon follow on loan and Morton was retained.

However, Morton, 22, the oldest of the three, has no long-term future at the club, covering for Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo.

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As long as Bajcetic continues developing his game – and keeps getting minutes – he could still have an exciting and prosperous future at Liverpool.