Arne Slot ready to UNLEASH the new Thiago

Liverpool listened to bids for promising midfielder Tyler Morton over the summer with a reported price tag of £20 million being mooted.

For a player untested at the top level - aside from a short run of games three years ago under Jurgen Klopp - it might have appeared a hefty fee to some.

However the calibre of clubs linked to the homegrown Red should give some indication as to his awesome potential. Bayer Leverkusen - German champions and helmed by Morton’s idol Xabi Alonso, RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt were among the Bundesliga sides linked with his signature.

Elsewhere, Atalanta and a host of Championship teams were also rumoured to be interested in the midfielder, who turns 22 today.

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Morton's career STALLS

No deal could be done, however, with certain clubs on the list preferring a loan and Morton instead started the season as a Liverpool player.

Having excelled on loan in the second tier with Hull City last season, it was expected that Morton would step up and provide competition for Arne Slot’s side this term. But with the Dutchman opting to deploy Ryan Gravenberch in the No.6 position, and with plenty of senior cover ahead of him, it’s been a frustrating start to the season for Morton.

He’s been on the fringes of things for the Reds, instead appearing back in the colours of the club’s under-21 side. It seemed that Morton’s career had come to a standstill, with little or no prospect of breaking into the first team.

His only game time for the seniors prior to Wednesday came in the previous round of the Carabao Cup, getting the last of the action against West Ham with the game already sealed.

Tyler Morton comes in from the cold

But that changed midweek with Slot deciding to utilise the Wallasey-born schemer in his lineup for the EFL Cup last-16 tie against Brighton. He played for just over an hour and was among Liverpool’s best performers on the night.

His style was as usual easy on the eye and he more than held his own statistically. Morton created two chances and made two tackles during his time on the pitch - the highest of any Liverpool player in that time frame - and created the breakthrough for Cody Gakpo’s brilliant first goal.

He also weighed in with two interceptions before being given a well-earned rest. It was a satisfactory night for a player stylistically likened to a recently retired superstar in Thiago Alcantara.

Morton admitted earlier in the year in an interview with Mail Online that he is learning from great Liverpool midfielders of the past including Thiago, Steven Gerrard and Alonso.

Morton learns from the best

“I pick up bits and learn how they move off the ball but it’s easier said than done to do a Thiago turn in a game or shoot from distance like Gerrard!” he said.

“But it syncs into my brain when I train with them and pick up their movement. Thiago is always in the right place - it’s second to none.

“Xabi just stuck out to me. He was different from everyone else. You watch the best players and he was the best.”

Morton ready to STEP UP

While Gravenberch is expected to continue in the holding midfield position long-term, there could be space for Morton elsewhere in the lineup as the fixture list begins to bite.

Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister have both required time off due to injury this season while Harvey Elliott remains on the sidelines. Wataru Endo does not have the trust of his head coach at present and no midfield reinforcements were added in the summer.

That means there are fewer impediments that you might expect for Morton to find his way into the starting XI, who has been on the bench for the club’s last two Premier League fixtures.

Liverpool will have four prizes to fight for this season and Morton has shown there is no reason to doubt he can contribute.

He will have done a lot to convince Slot of his abilities in the competitive sphere on Wednesday and that spells good news for Liverpool.

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