Stefan Bajcetic makes long-awaited Liverpool return from in under-21s win at Manchester United
Liverpool had a miserable weekend at senior level as their Premier League challenge took a huge hit thanks to Crystal Palace’s 1-0 win at Anfield.
But a positive piece of news in the Under-21s brought a small silver lining and could even have a late bearing on Jurgen Klopp’s final campaign in charge of the Reds.
An inability to overcome Manchester United in recent weeks has proved a major stumbling block for the German’s hopes of departing in the summer with more trophies to his name, following the 4-3 FA Cup exit at Old Trafford on 17 March, and the 2-2 league draw on 7 April.
But an impressive 3-0 victory from the U21s at the same venue on Friday night (12 April) saw Stefan Bajcetic make a long-awaited return from injury, after nearly seven months out with an ankle problem.
Trent Kone-Doherty, Kaide Gordon and Jayden Danns scored the goals, with Bajcetic, 19, providing an immediate assist for the second following his introduction from the bench after an hour.
Liverpool youngster has instant impact at Old Trafford after seven months out
The official Liverpool website’s match report said: “Bajcetic played his part by purposefully directing an interception into Gordon’s feet and the No.7 surged forward from the centre circle to the edge of the penalty area before whipping an unstoppable strike into the bottom corner.”
Having started the season by making first-team appearances in both the Europa League and the Carabao Cup, while making the bench in four of the first five Premier League games the young Spaniard would have been hoping to build on a breakout campaign last term where he played 19 times in all competitions.
Having seen Conor Bradley jump the queue in his absence thanks to injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold teenage right-back Bajcetic will surely have his eye on making a late impact in Klopp’s side before the season is out.
Had he been in the squad during the England star’s lay off the youngster would surely have seen extensive first-team action, but even if his return to fitness has come too late to force his way past Bradley, Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez, the immediate impact at Old Trafford suggests he is ready to make up for lost time.
In other Liverpool news, the Reds face missing out on a nine-figure financial boost after an Anfield shock.
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