Robertson says ‘brilliant’ Liverpool teammate has ‘really stepped up his game’ recently

Add as preferred source on Google

Andy Robertson had some lovely things to say about Stefan Bajcetic after his first goal for Liverpool on Boxing Day. The Spaniard came on to score against Aston Villa.

Stefan Bajcetic had a moment to remember last night as he bagged his first Liverpool goal. Jurgen Klopp took a big chance on the 18-year-old, throwing him on as the Reds held just a one-goal lead at Aston Villa.

But the move was inspired. On came Bajcetic, and it wasn’t long before he had his first Liverpool goal.

Darwin Nunez made it happen, powering through on goal and getting to the byline. His pull-back came off the goalkeeper, where Bajcetic picked up the loose ball and showed tremendous composure. The teenager took a touch past the ‘keeper, then side-footed past the defender on the line.

With that, it was 3-1 and Liverpool had the points.

Andy Robertson was thrilled after the game, suggesting this was exactly what Bajcetic deserved for the strides he’s made recently.

“Brilliant for him,” he told Amazon Prime Video. “He’s been around the first team long enough now and he’s really stepped up his game.

“He was brilliant when he came on.”

Stefan Bajcetic gets first goal

It was exactly what Bajcetic deserved – but the goal shouldn’t dominate the discussion. The teenager showed a great all-around performance and looked completely at home in a difficult game.

After all, Villa were in the ascendency when he came on as they chased an equalising goal. They didn’t have quite the same control afterwards, though, as Bajcetic helped add energy and composure to midfield.

To get that from an 18-year-old is remarkable, let alone that he found the third goal. But there’s another sign that Robertson is right about the ‘strides’ Bajcetic is making.

The Spaniard came to Liverpool as a centre-back. The academy has then converted him into a holding midfielder, where he’s broken into the first-team setup. But Klopp put him on as a more advanced centre-midfielder here, just in front of Fabinho and with a licence to break forward.

To develop so rapidly from a centre-back to a player capable of playing centre-midfield is magnificent. Bajcetic deserves all the praise in the world right now – because the Reds have a very talented teenager on their books.