Liverpool youngster Stefan Bajcetic has claimed that the standing ovation he received following his display against Everton was âcrazy.â
Bajcetic was deservedly given the Man of the Match award for his mature performance in Mondayâs Merseyside Derby. Perhaps recognising the reception he was about to receive, Jurgen Klopp subbed him for Naby Keita right at the end of the night.
Inevitably, the Anfield crowd rose in unison to salute their newest hero. And speaking to liverpoolfc.com about the ovation, Bajcetic was clearly delighted by it.
âWhen I came off, that standing ovation was crazy. My legs were a bit shaky! It was great to get the Player of the Match as well. I didnât expect it,â said the 18-year-old.
Bajcetic continues to stand out
Perhaps Bajcetic was surprised by the applause he received from the home crowd, but it was fully deserved. It isnât often such a young player makes such a big impression in a game like last Mondayâs.
The Merseyside Derby has indeed been the finishing school for many-a young player both red and blue.
From the red side, Michael Owen, Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard all had big moments in the derby over the years. But did any of them do it quite so well at quite as young an age as Bajcetic?
Youâd probably have to say not.
And this wasnât a stand alone event either. Bajcetic has been excellent pretty much every time heâs turned out for the first team this season.
The one blot on his copy book was maybe the Carabao Cup game against Derby County. The Spaniard looked a little lost against much more physical opposition that day and missed his penalty in the shootout.
But against the likes of Idrissa Gana Gueye, Amadou Onana, Ruben Neves and Conor Gallagher, he has been more than fine.
As a result, the excitement over this young man is fully warranted. Another big test comes over the next few days with Newcastle United and Real Madrid on the calendar. With Bajcetic in the side and doing his thing, Liverpool look more ready for those tests.