In preseason, Jürgen Klopp may have found his Fabinho solution after failing to land his top midfield target. He resembles Thiago Alcántara in some ways.
The most challenging test for Stefan Bajcetic came in a physically demanding setting against Burnley in the FA Youth Cup after only one month of consistent action at the under-18 and under-23 levels in his new position.
A slender and supple Bajcetic had little trouble coping with the physical task in front of him as he lined up against a “typical” Burnley team with towering and physically imposing players in every area.
He flourished in the middle of Liverpool’s midfield during the Reds’ 4-1 victory. Bajcetic swept up everything that Burnley attempted to send his way while controlling the middle of the park and setting the pace of Liverpool’s forward buildup.
Even then, it was clear that Liverpool had a gem in the 17-year-old on their hands. The Serbian-born Spanish youth international is the ideal combination of two of Jürgen Klopp’s senior players. He reads the game with elements of Fabinho, but possesses the distribution and grace of Thiago Alcântara when in possession.
A few weeks after that performance, Pep Lijnders mentioned him as a player Liverpool’s first team coaching staff was keeping an eye on. It came as no surprise when Bajcetic was selected for Klopp’s squad for the Reds’ preseason trip this summer.
The ease with which Bajcetic has adapted to life in senior football may have been the one unexpected thing.
Bajcetic has displayed good ball control and hasn’t seemed the least bit intimidated by the situation despite playing against international players who are much more seasoned and established than the Reds’ academy graduate.
Perhaps his most impressive performance to date—and the longest, following a 60-minute cameo—came during the match against Red Bull Salzburg. From the opening kickoff in the middle of the field, Bajcetic maintained control of the game by making smart decisions both in possession and when stopping the opposition’s attacks.
Despite what Klopp claims, it is obvious that the holding midfield position is where you would look first to find weaknesses in his current Liverpool side. This summer, Liverpool was dealt the disappointing blow of missing out on Aurélien Tchouaméni.
Liverpool has been exposed and at times weak without Fabinho, but Klopp might have made a wise choice in Bajcetic this summer. Like when he missed out on Julian Brandt and added Mohamed Salah, or missed out on Timo Werner and added Diogo Jota, missing out on Tchouaméni allowed him to find a potential superior option and, as a result, eliminate a headache that had previously caused him a lot of trouble. This time, though, it
Of course, Bajcetic is still raw and has plenty to improve, but his performances against opposition of such magnitude, even with the caveat of it being pre-season, is a positive sign.
The Premier League will have five substitutes in the upcoming season. Bajcetic won’t have to make an impact right away, but he will have more chances than ever to do so, and his strong preseason will undoubtedly open up more doors for him. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Harvey Elliott, and Kaide Gordon, among others, have demonstrated this in the past.
He only needs to take the opportunities that come his way for the time being, and Liverpool will continue to be pleased with his development. Bajcetic is undoubtedly a tremendous talent, regardless of whether he ends up more like Fabinho, Thiago, or someone else totally.
