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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has praised young defensive midfielder Stefan Bajcetic’s performance in his side's 3-0 loss to Strasbourg.
The Reds, fresh off a win over Manchester City in the Community Shield, fielded a young team against a strong outfit, who finished sixth in Ligue 1 last season.
They conceded three quick goals, two stemming from individual mistakes, but overall the Reds have a really good showing in a situation many of the players will not have been in before.
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One figure who stood out, not only in this fixture but throughout the entirety of pre-season, was 17-year-old Spaniard Bajcetic.
Klopp told Liverpool’s official website: “Stefan played a really good game, felt a little bit so we took him off because of that.”
He joined Liverpool in February 2021 from Celta Vigo, with the Reds beating Manchester United to his signature.
Born in 2004, Bajcetic made his under-18s debut for Liverpool as an under-16, and is a second-year scholar in the Reds academy.
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Even Liverpool legend and former European Cup winner Phil Thompson has been impressed with the lanky teenager.
“Bajcetic comes on, he's turning the ball around and is cutting about three or four players of theirs out of the game with one pass because he has the confidence and ability,” Thompson said on LFCTV.
“It comes from the academy, it comes from the teaching, how you do it - yes you've got to be safe with the ball in certain areas but be aware of what's around you.
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“You can bet your life that Bajcetic has gone: ‘I know someone is free on its way’ so has just turned it around into the space.”
Despite being one of the stars of Liverpool’s warm-up for the long season ahead, it is unlikely that he will feature much this campaign.
But he could potentially look to play in the early rounds of cup competitions if draws favour Klopp’s side.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp