It's time to get excited about Stefan Bajcetic once again

He dazzled the Liverpool faithful with shockingly mature performances in 2022-23, his age-17 season, but fitness robbed him of the chance to do the same again this season.

Now, still as a teenager, he'll be one of the players most excited to get a fresh start under Arne Slot this August- let's talk about why this upcoming season is going to be such a big one for Stefan Bajčetić.

While Liverpool's midfield was tremendously improved this season, there was a painfully clear depth issue.

The trio of Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endō and Dominik Szoboszlai was incredibly impressive at times, but each midfielder went through prolonged slumps due in large part to the wear and tear of being out there just about every day.

It's no coincidence that their weakest collective stretch of play came at the very end of the season- they were run down.

That's where Bajčetić comes in. As a youngster coming off of a very quiet, rehab-oriented season, he should have plenty in the tank in order to compete week in and week out.

Midfield has once again been cited as an area of need for Liverpool, but depending on potential outgoing players, there may be more-pressing needs.

If that's the case, Bajčetić will be even more key to the beginning of the Arne Slot era. Speaking of the new manager, his system should provide plenty of opportunity for the young midfielder to thrive.

With three defined midfield roles, one true No. 8, one more defensively-minded player, and an attacking midfielder, Bajčetić will have the chance to find the right home for his particular skill set.

That skill set is exactly what dazzled viewers as the youngster raised eyebrows during an otherwise disappointing 2022-23 campaign, and the same should happen as Liverpool launches into a new era.

With such a well-established veteran core, Bajčetić can inject life into the squad and help establish a new identify, much as a then-teenage Trent Alexander-Arnold did for the Klopp era.

With a possession-minded coach whose teams have long been known for creative and rapid passing, Bajčetić is set up to have all the success in the world. He is so calm on the ball and has no fear when being closed down by more than one defender.

Watching him get back on the pitch in the late stages of the 2023-24 season was a real treat, but more importantly, it was a sign that he's ready to go; this is his shot, and he's more than ready to take it.