Liverpool duo send Jurgen Klopp reminder as Stefan Bajcetic takes major step

Bajcetic back in frame

Just 72 minutes. That's all the competitive action Stefan Bajectic has managed for Liverpool at any level over the last 13 months after a hip injury related to his growth limited him to an aborted comeback over two appearances back in September.

The road back has been long and frustrating for the 19-year-old, who was so impressive when thrown into the senior side by Jurgen Klopp during the difficult middle third of last season.

Having been given the morale boost of a place on the bench against Atalanta on Thursday, Bajcetic was again among the substitutes at Old Trafford the following evening and this time introduced for the final half-hour.

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With almost his first involvement, the Spaniard showed what he is all about, winning the ball high upfield with a strong challenge and prompting an opportunity for the Reds.

The remainder of his outing was largely incident-free and primarily a matter of just getting minutes under his belt. Bajcetic will just be glad to be back.

Forwards stake claim

Recent events suggested Liverpool had something of a score to settle in this fixture. With the first team knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester United and then thwarted in the Premier League, there was also the small matter of a 9-1 thumping for the under-18s at home last weekend.

Certainly, the visitors weren't short of firepower, with three of their four forwards - Jayden Danns, Lewis Koumas and Kaide Gordon - having already scored for the first team.

However, it was the fourth, Trent Kone-Doherty, who continued his progress with the Academy by