8 Liverpool young prospects trying to ‘do a Stefan Bajcetic’ this pre-season

Last summer, Stefan Bajcetic took his first-team opportunities in pre-season and made a lasting impression on Jurgen Klopp.

Bajcetic, just 17 at the time, was called up to Liverpool’s pre-season tours of Thailand and Singapore. His tidy and mature performances against Manchester United, Crystal Palace, RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg had Liverpool fans swooning over him.

And when Liverpool’s midfield was in the middle of their slump last term, it was Bajcetic that Klopp turned to. Had he not impressed during pre-season, it is possible Klopp would not have taken such a big chance on a teenager.

There will be plenty of Liverpool youth players now dreaming of following in the 18-year-old’s footsteps, especially with the club facing a possible issue around their homegrown-player quota in their Premier League squad next season.

Klopp’s team will return to training this Saturday and head off to a training camp in Germany later in the month. This will be followed by a return to Singapore. With that in mind, we have picked out some of those young footballers who will be hoping to impress as Bajcetic did.

Ben Doak

Age: 17

Position: Forward

At 17, he might be one of the younger players of the group but Doak looks fearless every time he walks onto the pitch.

For this reason, he is likely to be among the academy contingent invited into the senior fold this summer.

After joining from Celtic last summer, it did not take long for Doak to get people talking. He is rapid on the right wing and applied that same speed when establishing himself as one of the most exciting players at Liverpool’s academy.

Back in October, a winning goal against Rangers in the UEFA Youth League was served ice cold. It was a moment to savour for Doak – not just because of his Celtic allegiances, but because of the quality he displayed. He calmly ran from the corner flag and moved his way through a host of Rangers players to finish with the outside of his right foot into the bottom left corner.

It was one of many struts from the right wing into the box made by Doak last season. He had full-backs stressed by his never-ending intent. The Scotland under-21 international likes to cut in and dribble at defenders. His close control and eagerness to get at players are joyous to watch.

After coming off the bench to make his Liverpool debut against Derby County in the Carabao Cup in November 2022 — 10 months after his professional debut with Celtic — Doak went on to make four more appearances. He has played an hour in total and gave a solid account of himself.

Even with teams interested in taking him on loan next season, it is thought Doak will stick around and continue his in-house rise. He is a player who gets chances and takes them. And more minutes should follow this summer and beyond.

Tyler Morton

Age: 20

Position: Midfielder

The Wallasey native was Liverpool’s breakthrough youth player during the 2021-22 season. Morton featured nine times and looked calm throughout his appearances in the Carabao Cup, FA Cup, Premier League and Champions League.

He collected winners’ medals from both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. To gain more experience at first-team level, he was loaned out to Blackburn Rovers at the start of last season. Once he was up and running in midfield in the Championship, Morton progressed well and became a key part of the Blackburn team who pushed for promotion to the Premier League and reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Morton played 46 times in Blackburn’s ultimately frustrated attempt to reach the play-offs before a fractured metatarsal at the end of April ended his season early.

It is understood he is currently ahead of schedule on his return to fitness and could be among the youth core of players welcomed onto the club’s tour. Liverpool, and Klopp in particular, have been pleased with the progress Morton made during his time at Ewood Park. This was rewarded with a contract extension at the start of 2023.

Luke Chambers

Age: 19

Position: Left-back

Chambers could have travelled to Argentina in May to play for England under-20s at the World Cup – instead, he was in East Ayrshire, seeing out his loan with Kilmarnock.

Chambers, who was an Under-19s European Championship winner with England last year, passed up on the opportunity of playing at a World Cup in order to complete his half-season loan spell with relegation-threatened Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.

“Obviously, it’s disappointing to be missing the World Cup, but what Kilmarnock have done for me I couldn’t just walk out on them with three big games to go,” the 19-year-old explained, before featuring in all three games which ensured the club’s survival in the top division.

His reputation has been steadily growing in the past couple of seasons and the honourable decision to stay with Kilmarnock has only added to it.

It was his displays during the first half of last season with Liverpool’s under-21s which led to his loan move. Chambers almost looked too comfortable at times when dishing out tackles and passes from left-back along with those attacking bursts into forward positions. Kilmarnock presented him with a new challenge — and one in which he thrived.

His performances there have helped garner him the attention of a host of clubs who are interested in taking him on loan for 2023-24. Bayer Leverkusen, managed by former Liverpool player Xabi Alonso, are understood to be one side having shown interest in Chambers. Meanwhile, Championship sides such as Watford and Sheffield Wednesday are also possible locations for a move.

Liverpool plan to assess Chambers over the course of pre-season before a decision is then made on the next step for him, which could be that another loan move at an increased level of difficulty.

Layton Stewart

Age: 20

Position: Centre-forward

Stewart is one young player who has been through it all when it comes to injuries. After rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in March 2021, it was not until April 2022 that he returned.

The striker’s game has drawn him comparisons to Robbie Fowler and Fernando Torres — high praise indeed — but last season was significant simply for him being able to get a season of academy football under his belt. Liverpool’s belief was clear to see when he started up front against Derby County in the League Cup in November.

Layton Stewart (Photo: Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images)

A loan move, perhaps secured later in the window, might offer the perfect opportunity for Stewart to build on his experience. There has been interest from a number of EFL clubs including League One side Barnsley as well as League Two Northampton Town.

Stewart will be hoping to get game time this summer to show Klopp and co what he can do before potentially heading out for a first loan.

Conor Bradley

Age: 19

Position: Right-back

Liverpool were delighted by Bradley’s season-long loan at League One Bolton Wanderers last season. They kept a close eye on the 18-year-old as he played a key role in Bolton’s pursuit of the play-offs and Papa John Trophy success, flourishing in a right wingback role.

The coaching staff are excited by Bradley’s potential and, after a season away to gain first-team experience, Klopp intends to give opportunities to the defender in pre-season.

Conor Bradley (Photo: Lewis Storey/Getty Images)

After the departure of James Milner to Brighton & Hove Albion and Calvin Ramsay’s loan move to Preston North End, he has the chance to cement himself as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s backup, with Joe Gomez the only other alternative.

Given Alexander-Arnold’s new inverted full-back role, it will be interesting to see if Klopp deploys Bradley in the same way.

Bobby Clark

Age: 18

Position

There has been plenty of positivity surrounding Clark’s development since he completed his move from Newcastle for a potential fee of £1.5million ($1.9m) as a 16-year-old in 2021. He was rewarded with a Premier League debut against Bournemouth and his first start in the Carabao Cup versus Derby County after making a good impression on the club’s 2022-23 pre-season tour, having been identified as one to watch by Klopp’s assistant manager Pep Ljinders.

There is a confidence and swagger Clark carries when he plays: the talent and potential are there and he is not afraid to try things. Liverpool see him as a No 8 long term, while his attacking instincts, awareness and intelligence to take up pockets of space suggest he will suit the No 10 role in the 3-box-3 formation.

He has been working hard in the off-season with fitness coach Islam Gamal Helmy in the hope of impressing again with Europa League football opportunities expected to be available for the younger players this season. There is also interest from football league clubs, including the Championship, if it is decided the best move for his development is a loan move.

Marcelo Pitaluga

Age: 20

Position: Goalkeeper

The Brazilian goalkeeper enjoyed a successful loan spell at Macclesfield FC last season, which was hampered by an ankle ligament injury in the second half of the season. It meant that Pitaluga did not play for the non-league side between November and April He returned for one game after Macclesfield clinched the North West Counties Premier Division title. He finished the season with 12 clean sheets in 24 appearances.

Throughout the campaign, he trained with Liverpool’s first-team goalkeepers and made a number of appearances for the under-21s. The 20-year-old is highly rated by the club’s goalkeeping coaches.

Marcelo Pitaluga (Photo: Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images)

Fellow young goalkeeper Harvey Davies has already moved on loan to Crewe Alexandra, while Adrian has signed a new deal to remain third choice. Caoimhin Kelleher’s future is less certain but Pitaluga is not yet viewed as ready to become the club’s permanent second choice yet.

Pre-season will offer the opportunity to show what he learned from his first taste of senior football in England, but a loan move at a higher level may offer the best course of action for his development.

Jarell Quansah

Age: 20

Position: Centre-back

Fresh off an Under-20 European Championship campaign which ended at the last 16 stages in defeat to Italy with England, the young centre-back will be looking to make a big impression.

At the academy since the age of five, Quansah has risen through the ranks, captaining the under-18s to FA Youth Cup final in 2021 and he is held in high regard by both academy and senior staff.

With Nat Phillips potentially leaving, Rhys Williams already on loan at Aberdeen, and the future of Sepp van den Berg uncertain, there is a chance to stake a claim as the fifth-choice centre-back — although Liverpool are exploring signing a young defender this summer.

Jarell Quansah (Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

The same scenario applied to fellow centre-back Billy ‘The Kid’ Koumetio. It was during the 2020-21 pre-season when the then 17-year-old caught the eye and put himself in the first-team thinking, earning an appearance in the Champions League. After a disappointing long spell with Austria Vienna last season, where he was recalled in January, he spent the second half of the season with the under-21s, including scoring from his own half.

His aim will be to replicate his 2020 pre-season impact, but there is loan interest from clubs in England and Europe.