Arne Slot lifts the lid on plans for two Liverpool youngsters who could make unexpected impact

The Reds' selection woes could be helped by two impressive academy graduates from recent years, who have struggled with injuries since first impressing under Jurgen Klopp

Arne Slot was asked about Jayden Danns and Stefan Bajcetic(Image: Getty Images)

Arne Slot hopes Jayden Danns and Stefan Bajcetic can still play big roles for Liverpool this season.

The duo have managed just 15 minutes between this campaign due to injury after Slot pushed to keep both at Anfield in the latter stages of the summer window. The youngsters, who came through the Liverpool youth ranks, have struggled with injuries over recent years.

Bajcetic has played just three times for the Reds since March 2023 and spent last season on loan at Red Bull Salzburg and Las Palmas. The midfielder suffered a hamstring issue at the end of the campaign that required surgery, and his return to the team has been delayed by minor setbacks which have prevented him from playing a single minute this campaign.

As for Danns, a stress fracture in his back meant he did not feature at all while on loan at Sunderland in the second half of last season, and the problem impacted his summer preparations.

After recovering and coming off the bench in the Reds’ Carabao Cup win over Southampton in September, the striker then suffered a hamstring injury and has not played since.

Slot feels both can play a role at first-team level and, particularly amid the Reds’ ongoing selection issues, hopes to be able to call upon them at some point in the final months of the season.

Bajcetic has not played this season(Image: 2024 Liverpool FC)

“Jayden, if he would have been fit, would be in the squad,” Slot said ahead of this weekend’s game against Newcastle United. “Unfortunately, he isn’t and we don’t expect him back today or tomorrow as well.

“He’s been very unlucky in his career until now but he has a great mentality and is always fighting back after setbacks. He has had, unfortunately, quite a lot because this would have been a great moment for him with Alexander Isak being out, and with the quality he has, being with us and helped us in certain.

“Unfortunately for him and for us he has faced a lot of injuries, but he will fight back and come back and the world will get to know him, the moment he is fit again.”

Slot has previously spoken about how highly he rates Danns(Image: Getty Images)

On Bajcetic, Slot added: “He’s not training yet. He constantly gets close to the team and gets little setbacks.

“We’re hoping to have him very soon, but at the moment he trains and has been out for seven, eight months with no first-team training, so as much as I would like to have him back, we have to manage the expectations with him as well.”

Slot also confirmed in Friday’s press conference that Ibrahima Konate and Curtis Jones will be back to face Newcastle this weekend, while Joe Gomez will not be available.

Jeremie Frimpong’s midweek injury is not as serious as first feared, with Slot revealing he will only be out for a few weeks, while Alexander Isak is still some way off a return following the broken leg he sustained last month.