His inconsistent 2022-2023 campaign Liverpool was minimal in positive aspects for Jurgen Klopp and networks they face a battle to secure a place in the Premier League’s top four in the remaining weeks of the campaign.
Early eliminations from the FA Cup and Carabao Cup ended the defense of last season’s two titles, with a big Champions League last 16 clash with Real Madrid on the horizon.
Klopp has expressed his frustration with the current landscape anfield, as he looks to overcome a storm of poor form and injury and secure a strong finish to 2022-23.
However, despite the negativity in early 2023, the rise of young star Stefan Bajcetic; It was a bright note for the German coach, with the 18-year-old seizing the opportunity to impress.
The career of Stefan Bajcetic
Bajcetic’s rise to the Liverpool first team has been rapid over the past 12 months, having only joined the Premier League giants in December 2020.
The Galician midfielder came through the lower divisions of his boyhood club, Celta de Vigobetween 2013 and 2020, before networks they were alerted to his progress in 2019 and opted to sign him.
After continuing to progress through Liverpool’s under-21s, Bajcetic joined first team training at the end of the 2021-2022 seasonand was included in a number of Premier League call-ups.
Klopp named him in pre-season ahead of the 2022-2023 season. with a new contract confirmed in August as part of the club’s long-term plan for the player.
With Liverpool’s midfield rebuilding this season, Klopp wanted to use Bajcetic as a rotation option, alongside Thiago Alcántara and Fabinhowith his debut coming as a substitute in the 9-0 Premier League defeat by Bournemouth in August.
His goal in the 3-1 at Boxing Day In 2022 against Aston Villa he opened his personal account with Liverpool, becoming the club’s third youngest goalscorer in the Premier League, before making his debut as a starter against Chelsea on 21 January.
Level of composure 💯
Just two minutes after his introduction, a moment Stefan Bajcetic will never forget ❤️ pic.twitter.com/UOK9VGs7lq
—Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 26, 2022
Klopp’s unwavering faith in the teenager convinced the club to renegotiate his contract last month, with a deal extended until 2027, reflecting his status as a first-team player.
His impressive composure in midfield has earned him a place in the German’s midfield, with four consecutive starts since the draw against Chelsea, being the only midfielder to do so.
Statistics Stefan Bajcetic
Bajcetic has been hailed for his composure and maturity in the Liverpool engine room, with Mo Salah praising him during his performance as Man of the Match in the Premier League derby against Everton (2-0) in February 2023.
His humble post-match interview drew social media love for the young Spaniard, showing all-out action against a strong Everton midfield as part of his most complete performance to date.
🗣 “It’s Mo Salah, maybe one of the best players ever.”
Stefan Bajcetić is grateful for Mo Salah’s compliments pic.twitter.com/Lyn5MjM764
—Football Daily (@footballdaily) February 13, 2023
Stefan Bajcetic’s game of numbers vs. Everton:
50 strokes
5 duels won
5 times possession won
3 accurate long balls
2 chances created
2 tackles
1 shot on goal
0 fouls committedJust 18 years old. ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/dgwxZHHlfv
—Squawka (@Squawka) February 13, 2023
These numbers show his role in pressing and winning possession for Liverpool on that February night in Anfieldas no player attempted more derby tackles without going overboard or committing a damaging foul.
Stefan Bajcetic’s famous father
Bajcetic’s impressive start at Anfield continues the family line of professional footballers following in the footsteps of his father Srđan.
The eldest of the Baicetics signed for Celta de Vigo in 1994, from Serbian side Vojvodina, and spent three seasons at the club before signing for Portuguese side Braga and returning to Serbia, with Red Star Belgrade. The former midfielder chose to return to Galicia in 2004 after ending his playing career in China, and Stefan was born in the same year.
However, father-son bonds run deep, like Srđan coincided with his father Thiago AlcantaraMazinho, in the 1996-1997 season in Vigo.
I love how Thiago’s dad played with Stefan Bejcic’s dad at Celta pic.twitter.com/CowaLsF0b0
— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) December 27, 2022
Thiago played for FC Ureca during his time in Galicia, before moving to Kelme when his father signed for Valencia.
FC Ureca reformed as ED Val Minor Nigran in early 2010, as Celta’s reserve team, with a young Bajcetic joining their ranks at the age of nine.
Is Stefan Bajcetic playing for Spain?
Bajcetic’s emergence in the Liverpool team this season has opened the question of his plans for an international career, given his ability to represent Spain and Serbia.
La Roja are interested in signing Bajcetic as an option for the future as part of a midfield transfer film involving Barcelona fans Pedri and Gavi. Bajcetic made his Spain Under-18 debut in 2021.
Despite the prospect of switching allegiance to Serbia due to his father’s roots, Bajcetic looks set to stay in Spain and could be called up for this summer’s European U21 Championship. However, if his impressive development continues in anfield, the new Spanish coach, Luis de la Fuente, could integrate him quickly to the absolute, as Luis Enrique did with Gavi for the 2022 World Cup.
