Two teenage right-wingers, given an opportunity on the big stage in the League Cup and wowing Liverpool supporters sufficiently to prompt hopes of great future promise.
But while Ben Doak is now generating a buzz among Reds followers, the experience of Kaide Gordon throughout much of the calendar year highlights the potential pitfalls for the next generation and the value of patience.
Gordon was last season fast-tracked from the under-23s to the first team by Jurgen Klopp, making his debut in the League Cup win at Norwich City and going on to score in the FA Cup win over Shrewsbury Town and make his Premier League bow from the bench against Brentford.
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It culminated with the then 17-year-old becoming the youngest Liverpool player to start a major semi-final when he played in the 2-0 win at Arsenal in late January that sealed a place in the League Cup final.
Barely a fortnight later, Gordon featured for the U23s in their defeat at Leeds United, after which he has been sidelined by a pelvic problem linked to his ongoing physical growth that has robbed him of valuable career development time.
"Kaide is closer to getting back and his rehabilitation will now be on the grass, which is always a good sign for any player," says Liverpool Academy manager Alex Inglethorpe. "Mentally it's a big step when they know they can go back on the field and out of the gym. The injury has been hugely disappointing for him. I've been very impressed with his attitude since being ruled out.
"I've caught up with him a couple of times and it has been really nice to get to know him a bit better on a personal level. There is undoubted talent there and it has been a long way back, but I'm sure he'll remind everyone how good he is."
In Gordon's absence, 17-year-old Doak - a summer arrival from Celtic - has been the one to grasp an opportunity having quickly gone from the U18, U19 and U21 sides to the first team, shining during a second-half cameo from the bench in the League Cup third round tie against Derby County in front of a packed Anfield last month.
"He is the sort of player I enjoy watching," says Inglethorpe, speaking to the ECHO. "Even when he was playing against Derby, he was somebody where you find yourself saying 'give him the ball'. I want to see him on the ball, I find myself on the edge of my seat. I like those sort of players who can carry the ball, dribble, attack, score and create. He ticks all those boxes.
"Plus I've really enjoyed working with him. He's someone who is very open-minded and realises he's not complete and that he has a lot of work to do.
"There will be other players who are slow-burners, and if you watch them over a period of time they hook you in. You start seeing the value of them over a period of time. It's not quite as eye-catching as someone like Ben or Bobby Clark, who is someone that can wow you with a moment here or there.
"The great thing at Liverpool is they will all get an audition at some point in front of the first-team manager and his staff. I'm pretty sure every boy here will be seen by someone from the first team. I don't think you can ask for anything more than that if you're a young player."
Both Clark and Bajcetic have made their first-team breakthroughs this season, part of the summer tour to the Far East, making their debuts from the bench in the 9-0 Premier League romp over Bournemouth in August and each given a first start against Derby.
Bajcetic, who arrived from Celta Vigo in February 2021, has benefited from being switched from centre-back to defensive midfielder, although Inglethorpe explains the 18-year-old's arm didn't need much twisting.
"As elegant as he was as a centre-back, we wondered whether he'd have more opportunity if he moved up a line," he says. "Interestingly, I spoke to Stefan around that time and he said his dad, who is a former player, had always said he'd end up a midfielder. I don't think we were pushing against a closed door with our decision to move Stefan. Stefan is a really great lad to work with. It was no problem for him. He is doing really well."
Doak, Clark and Bajectic have also this season featured in the EFL Trophy, Doak scoring in a 3-2 loss at Accrington Stanley. With Liverpool still waiting for a first win in the competition after 12 attempts, their participation has been called into question. Inglethorpe, though, has no doubts over the benefits.
"It's a strange one because the games have often come during international breaks and we're decimated at that time," he says. "We don't carry a large number of players for a specific reasons, and sometimes it's hard to get teams together to play in these games.
"There have been reasons in the past why we've not done well but players such as Tom Clayton, Leighton Clarkson and Jake Cain have benefited from exposure in that competition. We are very aware being in the competition can't stop you making decisions on loans, though. You don't want to keep players back just to play in possibly three games."
Of course, even with the Academy and first team now operating on the same site in Kirkby, it's impossible for Jurgen Klopp and his coaching staff to keep tabs on every up-and-coming talent. That, then, is where Vitor Matos comes in. Matos joined the Reds in October 2019 as elite development coach and provides the bridge between the youth and senior set-ups, and will help influence which youngsters join the first-team squad for the imminent warm-weather training camp in Dubai where there will be friendlies against Lyon and AC Milan.
"Pep Lijnders had a similar role without the title, but it meant he was aware of the younger players," says Inglethorpe. "And that was fantastic for us in as much as it allowed Pep to say about certain Academy players 'he's good enough... he needs a chance... he can play'. That's what Vitor does now. He has a bit more of an awareness of who is at the Academy and who is progressing well at the minute and could in the future. It's for Vitor to suggest which ones can go up to train with the first team or who can go on training camps, such as now in Dubai. That's very important to us.
"It's far more accessible now for the first team to watch the Academy boys play. When the 21s are training, very often there are first-team members of staff watching, and that has been a real benefit."
Certainly, under the stewardship of Inglethorpe, Liverpool are giving their next generation every chance to succeed.
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