Liverpool’s academy has produced and developed a number of top talents in recent years.
This season, one of the Reds’ youngsters has really stepped up when it mattered the most.
We’re talking about Stefan Bajcetic, whose emergence this season has been spectacular.
Liverpool paid Celta Vigo a reported £224,000 to bring him to Anfield in 2020.
Bajcetic has risen through the ranks at the Merseyside club and looked like an incredibly promising talent.
But this season, a midfield crisis led to Jurgen Klopp throwing the 18-year-old in at the deep end.
And he hasn’t disappointed, becoming a regular and one of Liverpool’s most in-form players.
Bajcetic’s efforts have been rewarded with a place in Goal.com’s NxGn list of the 50 best youngsters in the world.
“With Liverpool’s midfield crying out for an injection of energy and quality this season, Bajcetic stepped up in a big way to become almost an automatic selection for Jurgen Klopp’s side,” they wrote.
The 18-year-old, whom the Reds beat Manchester United to sign from Celta Vigo in December 2020, has shown an ability to combine excellent defensive instincts with a confidence in possession that belies his lack of experience.
Mohamed Salah recently labelled Bajcetic as Liverpool’s “best player” during their difficult run around the turn of the year.
“And despite having suffered a season-ending injury, it would now be a surprise were he to lose his place in the team next season, even once the planned summer overhaul of the squad is complete.”
Taking his chance
Liverpool seem to have a knack of uncovering top talents amid personnel crises and on-pitch adversity.
When they had their defensive crisis two years ago, the likes of Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams stepped up.
This season, Liverpool have struggled in midfield, and Bajcetic has well and truly come to the fore.
The Reds will obviously need to bolster their ranks in the summer amid expiring contracts and ageing legs.
However, Bajcetic’s ‘unbelievable‘ emergence and form means they’re not in such disarray now.
Better still, Liverpool have also kickstarted the career of one of the top midfield talents of the next decade.
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