Liverpool saw off Southampton on Wednesday night to make it to the semi-finals of this season’s Carabao Cup.
It was far from a smooth from the Reds, however, and there was one particular chink in their armour that one of their former players did not like.
Jason McAteer thinks Tyler Morton struggled at right-back during Carabao Cup win
Speaking to LFCTV after his former side’s Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Southampton, former Republic of Ireland midfielder Jason McAteer expressed his concern over Tyler Morton, after the latter was moved to right-back.
“I don’t think Tyler plays right-back, I don’t think he’s ever played it in the sense of that’s his position and he’s made it his own. He’s a central midfielder.
“So, to go out on that right hand side was obviously alien to him and I think he struggled a little bit.”
McAteer on Morton having to play right-back, as quoted by Rousing the Kop.
Morton was moved to the right side of the defence after Trent Alexander-Arnold, who had started the night in that role, was taken off at half-time. Despite his hiccups, Morton played the full ninety minutes and saw his side through to the League Cup semis.
Wedenesday’s game saw just the third senior appearance for Morton this season. All his senior appearances for Liverpool have arrived in the Carabao Cup.
Alexander-Arnold, on the other hand, remains linked with a move to Real Madrid amid contract talks with Liverpool.
TKT Opinion
Yes, Morton did have teething problems at the right-back slot after Alexander-Arnold’s substitution. But, given the fact that his struggles did not escalate into a complete collapse, one can safely say the young Englishman was able to hold its own.
Given how things are panning out, there is a non-zero chance Alexander-Arnold leaves Anfield next month, which would only leave Conor Bradley as an able deputy. In such a case, even if one can expect Liverpool to also enter the market and get a replacement right-back, Morton’s performances last night have the potential of easing Arne Slot’s worries a bit.
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Right-back may not be his long-term position, but Morton may occupy that spot a few more times in the coming weeks, and it’s likely he’d turn out better than he did against Southampton.