A teenager from Wirral continued his dream week at the highest level of football by making his first competitive start for Liverpool's first team at Anfield last night.

Wallasey-born Tyler Morton was selected by Jurgen Klopp to play in midfield alongside Thiago and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain against FC Porto in the Champions League group stage match.

The Reds went on to win the match 2-0, with goals from Thiago and Mohamed Salah, giving 19-year-old Morton the dream start to his first team career.

Speaking to LiverpoolFC.com after the match, Morton said: "Genuinely, I loved every minute of it! Especially walking out and looking up and seeing everyone. And clapping the fans at the end, that’s what I’m here for and that’s where I’m striving to be.

"To get applause at the end off all the fans, that’s what I want and that’s why I want to play for this club.”

 

Morton was handed is first Premier League appearance on Saturday when he came on as a late substitute during Liverpool's 4-0 home win against Arsenal.

But with the Merseyside giants having already qualified as group winners for the Champions League knockout stage, hopes were high that Tyler, who started his football journey with Greenleas JFC in the Eastham & District Junior League, would be handed a full debut.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (right) greets Tyler Morton after the final whistle during the UEFA Champions League, Group B match against Porto at Anfield. Photo: Peter Byrne / PA

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (right) greets Tyler Morton after the final whistle during the UEFA Champions League, Group B match against Porto at Anfield. Photo: Peter Byrne / PA

The promising youngster discovered that he would be starting last night's match on Tuesday and that vote of confidence from the manager was further enforced by the fact that Klopp resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes to his starting XI.

Speaking about his performance in the match, Morton said: "I’m not unbelievably experienced at No.6 but I am experienced at other levels, just not the first team. It always takes time to adapt to playing styles, I thought I adapted today well to the game and I thought as it went on I got better. In the end I was happy with my performance.

"(Thiago and Oxlade-Chamberlain) were quality with me, to be honest. I can’t speak more highly of them.

"It’s not easy having a 19-year-old lad coming in and playing with them, especially behind them, and trusting him. I felt I got a lot of trust off both of them today and I was really happy with that.

"The way they speak to me is improving me every day and yeah, I’m really happy."

Thiago Alcantara (centre) celebrates his wonder-goal against FC Porto, as Tylor Moreton looks on. Photo: Peter Byrne / PA

Thiago Alcantara (centre) celebrates his wonder-goal against FC Porto, as Tylor Morton looks on. Photo: Peter Byrne / PA

Midfield partner Thiago, who scored a sublime long-range goal in the second half was full of praise for his Wallasey apprentice.

In a post-match interview, he said: “We’re happy with Tyler. He’s a marvellous player. He’s been training with us and deserved to be part of the team tonight.

“He did an amazing game as well and I think he will have a great career here at Liverpool and in football in general.

“We are happy to have him and it was a fantastic to play with him tonight.”

Liverpool are next in action at home to Southampton on Saturday. Whether Morton will be involved or not remains to be been seen, but the impressive young man insists he is ready for anything.

He added: "I’m just really happy with the opportunity that I’ve been given. I couldn’t speak more highly of the manager and the players for giving me these opportunities and trusting in me. I’m just happy to be here.

"I’ll just take it as it is. If I’m playing, if I’m not playing, I’ll always keep a smile on my face. That’s how I am, it’s how I have to act, it’s me as a person.

"But the more opportunities the better, and hopefully more come soon."