Michael Owen delivers verdict on Stefan Bajcetic after Liverpool goal at Aston Villa

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Michael Owen has praised Liverpool youngster Stefan Bajcetic for the ‘composure’ he showed when he scored during his side’s 3-1 win at Aston Villa on Boxing Day. 

Less than a minute after Jurgen Klopp brought the 18-year-old off the bench, he was putting the ball into the back of the net to kill the game off for the Reds.

As a result of Bajcetic’s goal, he became the third youngest at (18y 55d) to score for Liverpool in the Premier League behind Raheem Sterling (17y 317d) and Michael Owen (17y 143d).

It’s a moment that Bajcetic won’t forget and it’s a sign of big things to come for the Spanish midfielder.

It needs to be remembered that Liverpool were winning 2-1, on the back foot, with Villa searching for that all-important equaliser when Bajcetic was introduced into the action.

It showed the faith Klopp has in the player that he threw him into such a pressure situation and Owen was left impressed by what he saw, as he told MatchDay Extra on Premier League Productions (26/12/22 at 11:00 pm).

“It was a neat goal as well,” said Owen. “I liked the way he was almost sprinting to get into the box. He slowed himself down, took the ball past the goalkeeper and defender, and then slotted it through Tyrone Mings’ legs.

“It was a very nice goal from the youngster. He showed a lot of composure and it’s great to do something so young,” chuckled the former striker.

Owen is then shown his goal for when he was Liverpool’s youngest-ever goalscorer: “I am surprised the pictures aren’t in black and white. It was a long time ago. I wasn’t going to miss from there, was I? Never.”

LIVERPOOL’S THIRD YOUNGEST GOALSCORER DURING THE PREMIER LEAGUE ERA

Of the players in the top five of Liverpool’s youngest-ever goalscorers during the Premier League era, all of them have had established careers.

Owen tops this list after repping Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester United during his career, Sterling is still cooking now, including for England, Robbie Fowler was one of the best finishers of his time and Jamie Carragher was a one-club man.

The signs are great for Bajcetic and he just has to look towards the coaching staff on Merseyside that will take him to levels he has never been at, that’s if he continues to learn and keep his feet on the ground.