Liverpool have had a tremendous start to the season under Arne Slot, sitting top of the Premier League.
Not every member of the Liverpool team remains in Merseyside to reap the rewards of Slot’s teachings, however.
A number of prospects have been loaned out this season and, although this caused some strife among supporters in the summer, the reasons are becoming clearer.
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Slot has utilised a very similar starting XI in the majority of his matches so far this season and opportunities for players on the periphery have been far and few between.
This means that the players out on loan away from Anfield can still get first-team opportunities and can continue to develop.
One of the Reds’ most exciting prospects, Stefan Bajcetic, is on loan at RB Salzburg in Austria, where he has teamed up with former Red Bobby Clark and Jurgen Klopp’s former assistant manager Pep Lijnders.
As well as Lijnders, Bajcetic works under Vitor Matos and Andreas Kornmayer who also coached both him and Clark at Liverpool.
Although Salzburg started the season very strongly under their new manager, the club’s form has taken a turn for the worst in recent weeks and this was epitomised by a 4-0 loss at home to Brest in the most recent round of Champions League fixtures.
Bajcetic only came off of the bench but Clark started the game and now reports are suggesting that the pair could inadvertently be causing trouble in the dressing room.
According to Kronen Zeitung, some players in the squad have become puzzled at Lijnders’ team selection and feel that the manager’s pre-existing relationship with Clark and Bajcetic is why they have featured so heavily for the Austrian outfit.
The suggestion here is that players don’t believe the pair are good enough to start for Salzburg. Only Lijnders’ history with them explains why he’d pick them over others.
Lijnders was at one point tipped to be a candidate to take over from Jurgen Klopp, even before the legendary German manager announced his departure from the club, but the Dutchman’s managerial career appears it could be stuttering already.
RB Salzburg supporters and players will want to see more from Lijnders but will also want more from Bajcetic and Clark, who need to prove they are deserving of a place in the starting XI.
Liverpool will be keeping a close eye on the development of Bajcetic and will want the youngster to play as many minutes as possible while on loan.
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