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How Arne Slot is testing Liverpool midfielder in bid to improve his weaknesses

-Credit: (Image: 2024 Alessandro Sabattini)
-Credit: (Image: 2024 Alessandro Sabattini)


Tyler Morton has revealed that Arne Slot has been testing him in training in a bid to develop the youngster into a more complete midfielder.

The Liverpool youngster has made just one substitute appearance under Slot, in the EFL Cup win over West Ham last week, and has not made it into a Premier League squad all season.

However, despite his lack of game time, the 21-year-old is enjoying life at Anfield under the Reds' new manager. “It’s been good," Morton told club media of working under Slot. "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.

Arne Slot
Arne Slot has been pushing Tyler Morton -Credit:2024 Getty Images

“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.”

Morton is targeting more game time in the weeks and months ahead but admitted it will be tough to break into the team given the depth of quality in the Liverpool squad.

“I’m proud of what I’ve achieved so far but I don’t really ever think about the past,” Morton added. “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.”