'Mohamed Salah thinks I'm Liverpool's best player - but leaving was best option for me'

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Stefan Bajcetic was once dubbed Liverpool's "best player" by Mo Salah but he's barely got a look in under Arne Slot . The 21-year-old starlet, sidelined with a hamstring injury since May, made a dazzling start to life at Anfield but has since seen his momentum stall.

Bajcetic broke through during the 2022/23 campaign, making 19 appearances and emerging as one of the few bright sparks in a difficult season for the Reds. Comfortable both in central midfield and at centre back, he impressed fans and pundits alike with his versatility, technical ability and composure well beyond his years.

His performances even caught the eye of Salah, who lavished praise on the youngster after he was named Liverpool's Player of the Month in January 2023. "He's a great player and person, he always tries to work hard," the Egyptian beamed. "Since he started playing for us, he has been our best player maybe, so hopefully he keeps that confidence and keeps going."

Bajcetic later admitted he was chuffed to bits by Salah's words. "When Salah tells you these things you try not to get carried away," he said.

"When Klopp or players of that calibre tell you these things, it gives you more confidence to go into training the next day and give more. You try to keep your feet on the ground and continue learning from the best."

He looked set to establish himself as a Liverpool regular, but Slot's arrival in 2024 shifted the landscape. The goodwill Bajcetic had built under Jurgen Klopp counted for little and he suddenly found himself needing to prove his worth all over again.

In pursuit of regular minutes, he joined Red Bull Salzburg on loan, linking up with former Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders, who had taken charge of the Austrian side. After a promising half-season stint, Liverpool recalled him in January and sent him out again - this time to Las Palmas for the remainder of the campaign.

Speaking after the move, Bajcetic described returning to Spain as the "best option" for his development, noting Las Palmas' strong reputation for nurturing young talent.

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"It was important that the players on loan are also playing and increasing their value here," he explained at his unveiling. "Las Palmas is a team that plays good football and gives opportunities to players who come on loan.

"I hope there will be some for me too. Considering things, it was the best option for me, I want to grow as a footballer. I think I can improve here."

Bajcetic's spell at Las Palmas started brightly but ended in heartbreak. In May, he suffered a hamstring injury that required surgery, ruling him out for months.

In October, Liverpool U21s manager Rob Page revealed that the club still did not have a definite return date , suggesting the midfielder could be sidelined until 2026.

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Despite the setback - and not having featured under Slot yet - Bajcetic can take some comfort in knowing he remains part of the manager's long-term plans at Anfield. "I hope it will be a big year for him because he's a very talented player and I think he could become a very important player for us," the Dutchman said of Bajcetic ahead of his loan move to Salzburg.

"It's a smart decision, at least in our opinion, to let him go somewhere, where he will hopefully play a lot of games. Then for next season, we'll have a player. If he fulfils his potential, [he] could definitely, definitely play for us in the future."

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