The cameo of Stefan Bajcetic off the bench for Liverpool in their Boxing Day win over Aston Villa was, as Jurgen Klopp put it, \u201clike a Christmas story.\u201d Liverpool fans were surely warmed by the festive display of the 17-year-old who scored his first senior goal at Villa Park, bolstering his growing reputation for the Anfield club.<\/p>\n
Much focus has been placed on Liverpool\u2019s midfield this season. By Klopp\u2019s own admission, the club should have strengthened this area of their squad last summer. However, the emergence of Bajcetic has gone some way to addressing Liverpool\u2019s deficiency in midfield with the young Spaniard impressing in the handful of appearances he has made.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe’s cheeky as hell and he is not worried about anything,\u201d said Klopp after Bajcetic\u2019s goal-scoring display against Aston Villa. \u201cHe just plays football and he can do that exceptionally well. He had a football-playing father, so the genes are there but also the attitude, awareness and match intelligence.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a defensive midfielder, Bajcetic could be the long-term successor to Fabinho as Liverpool\u2019s anchor in the centre of the pitch. The 17-year-old has the positional awareness to play this position well and possesses the technical ability on the ball to play his role in starting attacks from deep.<\/p>\n
Most notable about Bajcetic is his ability with both feet. This gives him the rare capacity to funnel possession in either direction which is something that could make Liverpool a more rounded team. The Reds have evolved as a possession-based team in recent seasons under Klopp and Bajcetic is further accelerating that evolution.<\/p>\n
In pre-season, it was clear that Bajcetic lacked the physicality to play at the elite level, but the teenager has added muscle to his frame since the summer and that has helped give him poise on the pitch. Everything is there for Bajcetic to become an important player for Liverpool as Klopp looks to rejuvenate his team.<\/p>\n
Bajcetic isn\u2019t the only youngster to have caught Klopp\u2019s eye recently. Ben Doak also came off the bench in Liverpool\u2019s victory over Aston Villa with the Scottish teenager labelled the new Wayne Rooney due to his performances in the Youth Champions League this season. Klopp expects big things from Doak.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that we have to create a situation where these boys can help us – and they can help us – but for that we need to be stable,\u201d Klopp said with regards to the young players coming through at Liverpool this season. \u201cIf we are stable, then they can play their role. It’s a big pleasure to work with these boys.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of course, Klopp has brought through young players at Liverpool before with Trent Alexander-Arnold sourced from the club\u2019s academy. A pathway into the first team already exists and Bajcetic and Doak appear to be next in line to walk it. The former is already proving his worth as a valuable squad figure.<\/p>\n