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Liverpool have three Academy graduates who will be hoping to make up for lost time on the United States tour

Sport

Ian Doyle

15:09, 20 Jul 2024



Stefan Bajcetic of Liverpool during a pre-season friendly match against Preston North End at AXA Training Centre on July 19 2024(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

The route from the Academy to the first team is rarely the most straightforward.

For every Trent Alexander-Arnold and Michael Owen who appears almost fully-formed when thrust into the first-team environment, there are tens of others forced to take a more circuitous route in their efforts to make it at Liverpool.

And even when their immediate impact is obvious, it can for a variety reasons take a significantly longer time before they can regard themselves truly part of the senior set-up.

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New Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has inherited three such fledgling talents who will all hope to spend the next six weeks proving they can take part in the Dutchman's Anfield evolution, both in the short and long term.

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Stefan Bajcetic, Ben Doak and Kaide Gordon all featured for 45 minutes when the Reds opened the Slot era with a 1-0 friendly defeat against Championship side Preston North End behind closed doors at the AXA Training Centre on Friday afternoon.

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He then went on to score in the FA Cup win over Shrewsbury Town, make his Premier League debut against Brentford and then become the youngest-ever Liverpool player to start a major semi-final in the second leg of the League Cup last four clash at Arsenal.

But a pelvic problem related to his growth meant Gordon was then sidelined for more than 18 months before spending most of last season rebuilding his fitness and confidence with the under-21s, albeit with three outings for the senior side.

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Bajcetic was next, transformed from a centre-back to a defensive midfielder during the pre-season ahead of the 2022/23 campaign and given debuts from the bench in the Premier League and Champions League before starting against Derby in the League Cup.

He impressed last summer on tour and replaced Mohamed Salah from the bench in the Premier League opener at Chelsea and made starts in the League Cup and Europa League before a serious knee injury effectively ended his campaign last December, a lack of fitness meaning he didn't make the final cut for Scotland's squad for the European Championships.

Now, though, the injury concerns are behind all three as they look to kickstart their respective Liverpool careers.

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Both Gordon and Doak, of course, are effectively competing for the same place.

Liverpool are looking for a long-term successor to Salah and while the lack of senior experience means neither can or should be regarded a direct replacement - that will most probably come via the transfer market - they can at least offer an option in a position Salah has had locked down for seven years.

The promise of Bajectic has been used as justification for Liverpool not seriously courting a new defensive midfielder so far this summer.

Nevertheless, the forthcoming US tour with games against Real Betis, Arsenal and Manchester United will represent an opportunity for the Spanish youngster.

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And with Salah the only one of Liverpool's five recognised senior forwards having reported back for pre-season training - Diogo Jota could yet link up with the squad for the latter stages of Stateside sojourn - the opening will be there for both Doak and Gordon to stake their claims.

All three youngsters have been compelled to remain patient of late.
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