Liverpool's Tyler Morton has risen through the ranks but has been largely overlooked in Arne Slot's first season as the teenager has been left to digest his peripheral role
Tyler Morton barely played for Liverpool this season
Tyler Morton barely played for Liverpool this season(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Tyler Morton concedes he's endured his "toughest season" after playing less than 300 minutes for Liverpool this season as he was continually overlooked and struggled with injury issues.
Morton has been tipped as a rising star having come through the club's academy and had benefitted from several loan spells away. He's dropped down to the Championship and played for Hull and Blackburn as he eyed more involved at Anfield.
The likes of Harvey Elliott have excelled after spending time on loan at Ewood Park, but Morton hasn't enjoyed the same trajectory. The 21-year-old was originally keen to head away from Anfield temporarily, but was told by Arne Slot to remain on Merseyside.
He ended up making just five appearances in all competitions, none of which came in Liverpool's Premier League campaign. All his outings came in cup competitions and Morton also underwent shoulder surgery earlier this year, leaving him to battle through the mentally challenges that come with that.
He told the Daily Mail: "I think it's been the toughest season mentally for me. Obviously, I've coped with it very well because I've got good people around me, but it's been very tough. I think I've coped with it as well as I possibly could. I think when you're not playing as a footballer who's as hungry as I am, it does hurt.
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"It's tough, especially when, in my opinion, I wanted to go out and I wanted to play and I wanted to go on loan and get my game time. But having chatted with the manager, having to stay, it could have worked out a lot worse than it did. It probably could have worked out a lot better than it did. It's still been a good season. I've still developed and, as you said, I still feel really sharp and really ready to go."
Morton hailed the influence of Elliott and Jarell Quansah - two more young players who struggled for minutes. Albeit they played more often that the young midfielder, but Slot hasn't utilised youth in quite the same way that Jurgen Klopp did.
The midfielder has previously gone to the likes of Hull to further his development
The midfielder has previously gone to the likes of Hull to further his development
"Yes, the minutes have been very limited for all of us youngsters this year," said Morton. "But that's just, there's different playing styles with different managers. And yes, it's been a learning season. I think you've got to have these types of seasons where you're trying to learn and I think it's been massive for us."
Despite not utilising him with any great regularity Morton claims Slot has been happy with what he's seen. "He's asked me just to be myself and to play the way he likes to play with his teams and I think I've done that when I've played, so it's been a good season," he said.
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