Liverpool will host Derby County in the EFL Cup third round this evening at Anfield, and the current champions will be hoping to get back on the road to Wembley to win the trophy for the second year in a row.
Jurgen Klopp will undoubtedly be desperate for his team to put on a world-class performance tonight in order to divert attention away from reports that FSG is now willing to sell the club, and the game will provide the manager with a golden opportunity to give those rarely-seen players in the squad a chance to shine.
It would be unlikely to expect a full-strength Liverpool starting XI this evening as the German coach has been trying to juggle several congested fixtures in the weeks and months leading up to the World Cup alongside non-stop injury issues in the team.
Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Joel Matip, James Milner, Naby Keita, and Arthur Melo are all currently sidelined with various issues and recovery times ranging from knocks to long-term absences, so it would be no surprise to see heavy rotation tonight.
As a result, one player who could finally be given the opportunity to start in the team to impress the manager with his talents and capabilities is Stefan Bajcetic.
The Liverpool U21s midfielder joined the club from Celta Vigo in 2021 and has already done enough in the youth set-up to earn a spot in the senior squad this season featuring on the bench in nine of the side’s first 13 Premier League outings as well as making his 21-minute top-flight debut in the 9-0 victory over Bournemouth.
Despite his promotion to the first team, Bajcetic has still been a crucial player in the U21s Football League Trophy campaign and over two appearances in the competition has shown glimpses of his talent in the defensive midfield role.
The Spanish 18-year-old has completed 71% of his dribbles and won eight duels per game, as well as averaging one key pass, 2.5 tackles, 65.5 touches, and two shots per game with the U21s this season, proving that he is a real threat in the center of the pitch.
Klopp’s assistant manager Pep Ljinders held the pre-match press conference for the Derby County clash and singled out Bajcetic for praise hailing the youngster ahead of tonight’s game:
“Stefan is someone who’s a joy to watch.
“He has all the characteristics that we search for as a midfield player.
With that being said, Liverpool could have a secret weapon in Bajcetic that could certainly scare Derby when they visit Anfield this evening. It could be the perfect chance for the talented teenager to prove his worth ahead of the second half of the season.
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