Jamie Redknapp shared his delight for Tyler Morton on Sky Sports (27/10, 22:03) during their post-game coverage of Liverpool’s 2-0 Carabao Cup win at Preston North End.
Jurgen Klopp handed Morton his first senior start at Deepdale, as the German rang the changes from his league squad. Goals from Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi did the damage to Frankie McAvoy’s Lilywhites and secured the Reds’ place in the quarter-final.
Morton made his first-team bow in the previous round of the cup as a half-time substitute as Liverpool beat Norwich. The 18-year-old has earned his brief senior chances with a key role in the Anfield natives’ development sides this season.
Morton has started eight Premier League 2 games so far this term, only missing Liverpool’s win at Blackburn on Monday. The Wirral-born midfielder has additionally opened all three UEFA Youth League ties and assisted in a 1-1 draw with Porto.
Redknapp believes Morton will have gained a lot from his first senior Liverpool start against Preston on Wednesday night. Comparing his build with Reds icon Dietmar Hamann and noting Klopp’s praise for the teenager.
“You’ve got to make sure you have got a bit of physicality because, in that position, it’s where you’re around number 10s – strong, powerful players,” Redknapp said. “Hamann wasn’t the biggest, but he had a great understanding and used his body really well.
“Any time anyone went near him, or he got touched, he went over and won a foul for his team. He [Morton] will get great experience from that, and it’s so nice afterwards to hear the manager speak about him in such glowing terms. I’m delighted for that young man.”
Can Morton follow in Hamann footsteps at Liverpool?
Morton would have a great Liverpool career if the 18-year-old can follow in Hamann’s path at Anfield, following Redknapp’s comparison. The German enjoyed a trophy-laden spell on Merseyside between 1999 and 2006, while making 283 appearances in all competitions.
Hamann helped the Reds win the Champions League, two FA Cups, two League Cups and a UEFA Cup. He also boasts two UEFA Super Cup winners’ medals in his trophy cabinet. While providing 23 assists and eight goals in 191 Premier League outings with Liverpool.
Morton has just started his Liverpool first-team journey, but showed promise at Preston to impress Redknapp. His performance was not faultless, having struggled at times to track the Lilywhites’ runners. But was tidy in possession and lofted a delightful pass into Neco Williams. Who completed the build-up to Minamino scoring.
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