Tyler Morton dreamt as a boy of playing like his idols Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso... now the Liverpool loanee is his own man at Hull as they push for Premier League promotion
When Hull won at Sunderland last Friday night, it wasn’t just Tigers fans going into a frenzy on social media.
Those of a black and amber persuasion were joined by Liverpool supporters, toasting to a goal made on Merseyside.
From one Liverpool loanee to another, Tyler Morton teeing up Fabio Carvalho, Hull moved back into the play-off picture with a fine away win.
Hull fans can add Jurgen Klopp to their Christmas card list and likewise, Reds supporters can be thankful for Tigers boss Liam Rosenior.
The Liverpool pair are leading Hull’s charge to the Premier League. There are more, of course, from dazzling winger Jaden Philogene to Manchester City loanee Liam Delap and local lad Jacob Greaves.
But the duo have made Hull now Liverpool fans’ favourite Championship side.
Football purists should enjoy what Hull are doing regardless of that. Highly-rated coach Rosenior has assembled a forward-thinking side under the ownership of ‘Turkish Simon Cowell’ Acun Ilicali and it seems like the perfect breeding ground for young talents.
While Carvalho is a recent addition, he joined earlier this month after spending the first half of the season largely sat on RB Leipzig’s bench, Morton has been at the heart of everything good for Rosenior’s men this season.
After spending last season on loan at Blackburn, who missed out on the play-offs on goal difference alone, Morton has improved under Rosenior and earned himself an England Under 21 call up, a moment which saw the youngster come full circle in his fledgling career.
He turned down Everton aged seven to join Liverpool and has dreamed ever since about scoring at Goodison Park. It didn’t come in a Reds shirt but it was still one of Morton’s proudest moments, not just his home Under 21s debut but his first goal in professional football.
‘That was one of my proudest moments yet,’ Morton tells Mail Sport. ‘I don’t really get nervous before games but I was scared before this one. I got in my own head about it, it was a big opportunity. It was lovely to play at Everton, where all my family and friends could make it.
‘I remember my first couple of training sessions with Liverpool. I was quite a shy lad. But you have to grow a personality even at that age to make it in football. I grew into myself quickly. I found a real love for footie.
‘I used to go to the park and practice my pinging with my dad, I loved Xabi Alonso so I tried to copy him. I had trials at both Everton and Liverpool - different teams each night. Nothing against Everton, but the feeling of joining Liverpool was perfect. They were the ones for me.
‘Stevie Gerrard was my idol but I loved watching Xabi play, he was just different class. Something new and different at the time. The Premier League didn’t have many Spanish midfielders who absolutely ran the game. It was more physical then, he was technical.’
The Wallasey-born midfielder made his Liverpool debut in the Premier League against Arsenal in 2021, the start of a special run of games that saw him play in the Champions League against Porto and AC Milan at the San Siro.
After idolising Gerrard and Alonso, the 21-year-old says he does not style his game on players as much now he’s a professional - but still picks up bits from experienced midfielders whether that’s at Liverpool, Blackburn or Hull.
‘It’s an easy thing to say I base my game on people, I don’t try to be anyone else on the pitch,’ he says.
‘I pick up bits and learn how they move off the ball but it’s easier said than done to do a Thiago (Alcantara) turn in a game or shoot from distance like Gerrard!
‘But it syncs into my brain when I train with them and pick up their movement. Thiago is always in the right place - it’s second to none. Xabi just stuck out to me. He was different from everyone else. You watch the best players and he was the best.’
Morton spent Wednesday night watching some of his best mates, like Jarell Quansah who he has trained with since the age of seven, Conor Bradley, and Harvey Elliott, one of his closest friends, play for boyhood club Liverpool in a cup semi-final.
It fills him with hope that he will one day become a mainstay in Klopp’s midfield - but for now he is fully focused on the task at hand with Hull. ‘I watch every game,’ he says. ‘They’re my mates at the end of the day. Harv’s one of my best mates, a great guy.
‘Conor has turned into a real top player. Everyone at the academy knew he would. Jarell as well, he’s been absolutely brilliant - I’ve grown up with him and trained with him since I was six or seven. Lovely to see them do well and represent the club that I love and support.
‘But these loans have really developed me. It’s amazing. To pick up these experiences and pick up different styles. Right now I’m feeling really good about myself because of coming out of my comfort zone - I’ve moved here with my girlfriend which has made it much easier.
‘The lads here are fantastic - it’s a really special group. As soon as you walk into the training ground you can see it’s a tight-knit group and that’s been brilliant for my development. I’ve learnt a lot of skills aside from being a player.
‘I want to be a leader one day. That’s starting here at Hull. I want to lead, talk and command.
'If you want to be pivotal to any team you’ve got to lead, whether that’s on the ball or verbally. The gaffer is pushing me to be both.’
Rosenior is the topic that Morton keeps returning to. His coaching career is still young but the 39-year-old has won plaudits in Brighton’s setup, before being the brains of Wayne Rooney’s Derby and now flourishing at Hull, where he recently signed a new three-year deal.
‘He gets it right with everyone,’ says Morton.
‘He develops players but he develops people as well. It’s really nice to be coached by him - I’m getting better every day because of him. He gives me a bit of freedom but also respects family time.
‘I am loving every minute at Hull and I hope the fans know they are a part of the success, there’s no better feeling than hearing them singing my name. I missed out on the play-offs on goal difference last year so getting into them is personal for me, it really hurt, I want to put it right.’
