Liverpool’s “staggering” wonderkid could become Trent 2.0 under Slot

Liverpool have been handled to shovelfuls of Jurgen Klopp‘s power and enthusiasm over the previous 9 years or so however the German’s iconic Merseyside journey is now at its finish.

Emotion can be excessive, tears can be spilt and reminiscences for a lifetime will flood by means of Anfield’s partitions as third-place Liverpool host Wolverhampton Wanderers to shut their Premier League marketing campaign.

In the meantime, Arne Slot can be getting ready to jet to England as he succeeds Klopp within the Liverpool dugout, recently confirming the open secret that he would be the membership’s head coach subsequent season.

Slot has large boots to fill however he’ll take the reins at an outfit brimming with high quality and solidified by means of a steely infrastructure, with a wealthy wave of academy expertise at his toes.

In some ways, succeeding Klopp is an unenviable activity however Slot has the smarts and the fashion to captivate the Reds, particularly if he makes good use of the teenage hopefuls at his disposal.

Slot might discover his personal Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool

It is no coincidence that Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s rise to prominence at Liverpool is synonymous with Klopp’s trophy-winning success, with Gary Neville even remaking that the 25-year-old “has the material to be the very best right-back of all time”

Taking part in underneath Klopp’s steering is all of the Three Lions star has ever identified, making his debut aged 18 and since finishing 309 appearances, scoring 19 goals and providing 81 assists.

He is among the greatest within the enterprise, rating among the many prime 12% of full-backs throughout Europe’s prime 5 leagues over the previous 12 months for objectives, the highest 3% for assists, the highest 1% for shot-creating actions and the highest 2% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

The bond between Klopp and Alexander-Arnold strengthened the supervisor’s reference to Liverpool, with the town, with the followers, and Slot now wants to make sure that he does the identical, and he might discover his very personal prodigy within the Reds’ Stefan Bajcetic.

How Bajcetic might thrive underneath Slot

Bajcetic entered the fray with a bang final season, promoted to the primary workforce within the Premier League as Klopp fought to cease the rot that had ruined his workforce’s 2022/23 marketing campaign.

The 19-year-old Spaniard featured 11 times within the league, scoring a powerful objective in opposition to Aston Villa to verify a much-needed victory in December and showcasing his power and enthusiasm by succeeding with 64% of his dribbles.

Writer Leanne Prescott even said: “Staggering that Liverpool look most in management this season when 18-year-old Stefan Bajcetic is enjoying.”

Wataru Endo, aged 31, has accomplished a powerful job on the base of Liverpool’s midfield after completing a surprise £16m move to Anfield final summer time, however one analyst projected that “he would struggle” away from Klopp’s system, and Slot would possibly discover that his model of soccer thrives with Bajcetic that includes because the No. 6.

The Japan worldwide has completed 28 Premier League matches this season, beginning 19 instances, and whereas he is accomplished 88% of his passes and supplied an industrious and dedicated presence within the centre of the park, he is additionally solely averaging 1.6 tackles per sport, profitable simply 45% of his contested duels.

This speaks of Endo’s weak point in mobility and athleticism, two issues that Bajcetic boasts in abundance. The teenage expertise can be blessed with elite composure, sustaining his cool in chaotic circumstances at instances final time period, however he is additionally fuelled with sturdy life, covering so much ground and finishing defensive actions throughout the pitch.

His all-action, age-belying mix of qualities have solely simply scratched the floor of what might be a beautiful profession on the peak of the European sport, and his incoming Dutch supervisor will certainly fall for this distinctive starlet.

Certainly, Slot enjoys aggressive, front-footed soccer that bears a semblance to Klopp’s fashion however there may be an emphasis on midfield management that is not discovered within the German’s system, with large overloads distinguished on Merseyside’s purple half.

Bajcetic has already demonstrated his powers of management and affect in age-belying fashion, and whereas accidents and setbacks have limited him to only three senior appearances in 2023/24, the longer term phenom seems to have reached the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel after enjoying 25 minutes off the bench in Liverpool’s current 4-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

Match and firing as soon as once more, Bajcetic should now use the summer time break to show himself to Slot, impressing in pre-season and suggesting that he deserves an everyday place in his senior squad.

He already has the squad on his aspect: final season, Mohamed Salah said that “since he began enjoying for us, he has been our greatest participant perhaps so hopefully he retains that confidence and retains going.”

Alexander-Arnold’s hyperlink to Klopp received over a proud footballing metropolis, and now Slot should be certain that he finds his personal model of the artistic genius to show his suitability with the seat on the head of the desk.

Fortunately for him, Bajcetic is poised to make an actual influence subsequent season.

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