Liverpool Loan Star Slammed and Fined as Team-Mates Speak Behind His Back
Liverpool loanee Stefan Bajcetic has endured a rocky start to his stint at Red Bull Salzburg, with mounting criticism from both fans and teammates. The young midfielder, who made a breakthrough at Anfield under Jurgen Klopp before suffering a string of injuries, has struggled to find his form since joining Salzburg on loan under Klopp’s former assistant, Pep Lijnders.
The 19-year-old’s loan move to Austria was seen as a chance to regain fitness and build on his promising displays at Liverpool. However, reports from Austrian outlet Kronen Zeitung suggest that some of Bajcetic’s teammates are privately questioning Lijnders’ decision to include him in the starting lineup regularly, especially following a string of underwhelming performances.
Bajcetic has started the last three league matches for Salzburg, including their recent 5-0 humiliation against Sturm Graz. His performance was particularly criticized, with the Austrian media awarding him a 1/6 rating, one of the lowest scores possible. The same rating was given to nine of his teammates, with only midfielder Mads Bidstrup managing to score slightly higher with a 2/6. Even Bobby Clark, who made a £10 million switch from Liverpool earlier this summer, failed to make an impact after coming off the bench for the last 33 minutes.
This poor run of form has not only attracted negative attention but also landed Bajcetic in trouble off the pitch. He was reportedly fined for arriving late to training ahead of a crucial Champions League fixture against Brest, a match in which Salzburg were convincingly beaten 4-0. It marks another low point in what has been a difficult period for both the player and the team.
Salzburg, who finished as runners-up in the Austrian Bundesliga last season, now sit in a disappointing fifth place under Lijnders’ leadership. The pressure is mounting after a 3-0 loss to Sparta Prague and the 4-0 defeat to Brest in the Champions League. Speaking after the heavy defeat to Sturm Graz, Lijnders did not hold back in his assessment.
“Sturm were better in every moment of the game,” Lijnders admitted. “We’ve lost confidence, and instability has set in. We simply have to defend better.”
With Salzburg’s season already showing signs of strain, Liverpool loanee Stefan Bajcetic struggles highlight the challenges of maintaining form in a new league under intense pressure.
Liverpool Loan Star Slammed and Fined as Team-Mates Speak Behind His Back
