A Liverpool loanee has been slated for his latest performance after he was accused of causing problems at his new club.
This weekend, Liverpool continued their winning streak with a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace, keeping them at the top of the Premier League—a fact that should please manager Arne Slot.
However, the injury to goalkeeper Alisson is a concern, though overall issues at Anfield are minimal at this time.
One area of worry is Stefan Bajcetic, who hasn’t adapted well to his loan at RB Salzburg. Reports indicate he was late for training last week, leading to a fine before Salzburg’s 4-0 loss to Brest in the Champions League.
Things worsened on Sunday, as Sturm Graz scored five goals against Salzburg in a humiliating defeat for coach Pepijn Lijnders. Bajcetic, 19, started the match but did not perform well, earning a rating of 1/10 from Austrian outlet Krone, which also gave the same score to his teammates. Krone noted he “looked out of place in midfield.”
The outlet previously mentioned that Salzburg’s players are surprised by Lijnders’ decision to keep selecting Bajcetic and former Liverpool player Bobby Clark despite their poor performances. Bajcetic is expected to stay at Salzburg for the rest of the season, but he will need to improve his form to have a chance at returning to Slot’s squad at Anfield.
The young Spaniard had a promising start in the 2022/23 season, but injuries have hindered his progress.
Salzburg marks Pepijn Lijnders’ first managerial role after he was recognized for his significant contribution to Liverpool’s success under Jürgen Klopp. His connections with his former club likely aid in attracting young talent to bolster his new team.
Currently, Lijnders’ squad is in fifth place in the Austrian Bundesliga, having recently faced their first league defeat of the season. If results don’t improve soon, he may not have much time to turn things around.
Salzburg has been the dominant force in Austrian football, winning 10 consecutive titles from 2014/15 to 2022/23, although Sturm Graz claimed the top spot last season.
