InterviewTyler Morton: I fight and compete every day to be ready for a chance

The midfielder made his first competitive senior Liverpool appearance for two-and-a-half years when he was sent on as a second-half substitute in Wednesday’s 5-1 Carabao Cup win over West Ham United.

Two nights later, Morton was highly influential for the U21s as they chalked up an impressive 3-0 away victory against Arsenal in Premier League 2.

His wicked set-piece delivery created the opening goal for Amara Nallo, before Morton got on the scoresheet at the end of a counter-attack he had begun himself.

Back with the Reds after spending the previous two seasons on loan in the Championship with Blackburn Rovers and Hull City, the No.80 is determined to ensure he is ready to grab any chance that comes his way.

“I’m proud of what I’ve achieved so far but I don’t really ever think about the past,” he told the latest edition of the official LFC matchday programme.

“I’m thinking about what I can do next and the steps I can make and at this club you can make serious steps.

“I love healthy competition and it’s more than healthy here. There are some incredible footballers as it’s one of the biggest clubs in the world and it’s an absolute pleasure to be here.

“I fight and compete every day to make sure that I’m prepared for whenever I get the call-up and I’m ready for whatever happens next.”

When the 21-year-old returned to Merseyside during the summer from his time with Hull, there was of course a new man at the helm of Liverpool.

Providing his own insight on working under head coach Arne Slot so far, Morton continued: “It’s been good. It’s been very different in a lot of ways really but in a lot of good ways.

“The manager has come in and tactically stamped his authority hugely. I think that’s a massive credit to him and his coaching staff.

“For myself, it’s been a massive learning period and a period in which I’ve had to be really patient and wait for that chance to come, but I’ve been really working hard on myself.

“To be a Liverpool footballer you’ve got to be able to do a lot of things and for me that means playing both midfield positions as the six and the eight who drops deeper to help the number six. I’ve been learning both positions and the manager’s been testing me and putting me in positions where I need to get better, which is only going to help me.

“That number eight is the position that I always played when I was younger, before I came into professional football. I used to be a box-to-box eight, defending and then getting into the box to score goals and create.

“The manager’s changed my game really well and he’s helping to develop me in situations that I probably wouldn’t have had the chance to be in when I was playing in just the six role.

“I’ve found it tough at times being on the bench or not being on the bench but I feel that my head is really screwed on so I’m working on what I can do and giving everything I can to be available to play.”

It was three years ago this month that Morton made his senior debut for the Reds, appearing as a substitute in a Carabao Cup tie away at Norwich City.

He went on to feature nine times in total that season, including in the Premier League and Champions League.

“It’s unbelievable to think it’s been three years,” he reflected.

“I feel very proud of what I’ve done so far and very grateful to everyone that’s helped me along the way. It’s a massive thing to think that I’ve been involved in professional football for three years now.

“I’m a lot more mature than I was in that Norwich game in 2021 both football-wise and as a person. Playing those games with Liverpool [in 2021-22] gave me a lot of confidence and put me in the limelight to go on loan to Blackburn and Hull, which were very good experiences for me.

“I think I gained the experience that I needed to come back to Liverpool and be in the position that I am now. It’s definitely helped me so much and I’m grateful to the people that really wanted me to improve and wanted me to be in this position.

“It’s been the best few years of my life and long may it continue.”