Here is your Liverpool morning digest for Wednesday, February 15.
Liverpool hint hidden behind scenes at Anfield makes future perfectly clear
It hasn't taken Stefan Bajcetic long to become part of the furniture at Liverpool, writes Paul Gorst.
The 18-year-old may have just a half-dozen Premier League appearances to his name but his ascent has already been duly noted by the club in its Anfield artwork inside the bowels of the stadium, where his likeness has been printed on to the 'Liverpool Football Club' wall stenciling.
For someone who didn't make his senior debut until November, it represents quite the nod of recognition from the club itself, but it's entirely in-keeping with the rise the teen has enjoyed in a breakout campaign so far under Jurgen Klopp.
It was in late 2020 when Liverpool mobilised to aggressively gazump Manchester United to secure 16-year-old Bajcetic for £240,000 from Celta Vigo. Initially brought in as a centre-back, it quickly became apparent the teenager was better suited to a defensive midfield role.
Bajcetic was Liverpool's final signing before the introduction of the new rules that were brought in following the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union. Head of Academy scouting, Matt Newberry, has been credited with helping the Reds beat United to the versatile youngster's signature and his rapid ascension through the ranks was rewarded with a long-term contract that was handed out in late January.
His emergence has been timely for Klopp as he has tried to wrestle with a plethora of problems in midfield around fitness and form for key players and it's telling of both of Bajcetic's quality and the underperformance of others that Monday's appearance in the 2-0 win over Everton saw him become the youngest ever midfielder to start five successive games for the Reds.
That statistic highlights both the problems Klopp is dealing with and also why Bajcetic is increasingly being viewed as at least a solution even if not the definitive one. But at a time when Liverpool's fanbase seem transfixed by the long-term future of 19-year-old Jude Bellingham at Borussia Dortmund, the No.43 has at least shown there's another teenage midfielder, much closer to home, who is also worth being excited about.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
Jurgen Klopp makes 'insane' claim after watching Liverpool deliver against Everton
Jurgen Klopp has challenged Liverpool to continue showing they have regained their identity after a dominant derby triumph - as he hailed an “insane” Anfield atmosphere.
Goals either side of half-time from Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo earned the Reds a 2-0 Premier League win over Everton on Monday night.
The victory was Liverpool’s first in the top flight since Boxing Day and moved them up to ninth place, still nine points adrift of the Champions League qualification places.
But Klopp was delighted with the manner of the performance, and said: “Tonight was really important. It gave us all a sign that was us tonight, definitely. We have to make sure we are us from now on.
“I feel relieved. That’s it, that was the main feeling since the final whistle. Happy with the performance.
“In a meeting today I told the boys everybody thought the training week was really good but now we have to bring it on the pitch.
“We needed this game, we needed this performance, now we have it. Our people absolutely deserved it, I loved the atmosphere. Even before we scored, the people were there. It is insane what kind of atmosphere the people create here. Tonight we delivered and our people deserved it.”
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
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