Liverpool sealed their classification to the eighth of the Champions League on the fourth day. His immaculate track record in European competition has given Klopp the opportunity to perform rotations and give many minutes to players who usually do not have them. One of them has been Tyler Morton. The 19-year-old midfielder started and completed 90 minutes in the win against Porto and it has become one of the names of the week in the whole network.
Morton debuted with the Liverpool’s first team on September 21 in a match of EFL Cup against Norwich and added his first title to the Preston in the same competition. However, it was not until last weekend that his name began to appear in the most media spotlight. Tyler made his Premier debut against Arsenal and enjoyed his first start at Anfield with the majors against Porto.
In the preview of the European game, Klopp assured that he would be “very excited and very nervous, but he has everything in his particular toolbox.” And he was not wrong. Morton fulfilled and was vital in the center of the field for what Thiago and Oxlade-Chamberlain They will take off in the opposite field and reach the rival area. The young talent of ‘The Academy’ acted as positional pivot, completed 34 passes, created 1 goal chance and won 6 duels. In addition, he also made 2 interceptions and 6 recoveries. More than decent numbers for a footballer who is taking his first steps in the elite.
At the post-match press conference, Thiago Alcántara did not hesitate to throw flowers at him: “I love training and playing with young players. When Tyler first coached with us I asked who he was. I thought he did great. He deserved to be a starter (against Porto) and he had a great game.” The Spanish went even further and got wet about Morton’s future: “I think he will have a great and brilliant career, both at Liverpool and in football in general. We are very happy to have him with us.”
The umpteenth discovery of the red quarry
Tyler Morton, a native of Wallasey – 5 miles from Liverpool – started out playing on the Greenleas college football team. Nevertheless, At the age of 7 he was already recruited by Liverpool. He even turned down an offer from Everton. Since then, the young man has been burning stages at a great speed until he settled in the U18 teams and Anfield club under 23. On January of this year he renewed with the club and he already made the preseason with the first team. The rest is history.
He is a fairly versatile midfielder. Used to alternate pivot and inside positions in the lower categories and that has been his role so far with the first team. He has a great ball deal, privileged tactical notions and a football IQ well above his age. His dynamism always keeps his rival on alert and allows his teammates to work with greater freedom.
Tim Keeton (EFE)
Jürgen Klopp is clear about the level that the squad can give and so he made it known after the victory in the Champions League: “With Tyler, everyone may have been surprised, but he’s doing really well. He’s young and physically fine, he doesn’t need much rest right now. He’s a great player and I’m very happy that he’s doing performances like that.”
Tyler Morton played the first 8 full games with the U23 team before the German coach raise him to the first team. He was a key figure in Liverpool’s second team, but he is already trying to gain a foothold in the first one. In a December full of commitments for the Reds, it would not be surprising to see a midfielder with a lot of future projection again.