Tyler Morton: How the former Liverpool prospect rediscovered his love of football

For Morton, it was a wrench to leave his hometown club. He has been with Liverpool since the age of five and has risen through the academy to be regarded as one of the club’s brightest prospects after breaking into Jurgen Klopp’s 2021-22 squad.

But after promising loan spells at Blackburn and Hull, opportunities dried up under Arne Slot and Morton found himself at a crossroads.

The decision to move abroad was not simply a change of scene, but a defining moment – a chance to expand his horizons and add new dimensions to his game.

“As soon as Lyon came in, there was nothing else on my mind,” said Morton, who moved to France after helping England U21s win the Euros. “It’s a massive club and the support here is amazing. It’s always going to be a big challenge to move away from home but it’s what I wanted and I felt ready. I wanted to show people I can be a leader and hopefully that’s what I’ve done.”

Morton arrived in Lyon at a time of considerable uncertainty. France’s dominant force in the 2000s, they have fallen on hard times and were even provisionally relegated last summer due to their financial situation, only to be reinstated on appeal.

Several senior players, including Alexandre Lacazette, Rayan Cherki and Georges Mikautadze, have left as part of a major overhaul, with younger, more affordable replacements brought in.

Picked up for just €10m (£8.7m), Morton spent little time making his mark. He helped Lyon win at Lens on the opening weekend and was named man of the match on his home debut against Metz.

Everything went perfectly that day – except for his half-time interview, which left French broadcasters confused. “They couldn’t understand anything I said,” recalls Wallasey-born Morton, who speaks with a strong Liverpool accent. “The translator just laughed. I’m not used to doing half-time interviews when the adrenaline is flowing, so I spoke way too fast.”

It was a light-hearted reminder of the adjustments required off the field, but Morton quickly adjusted where it mattered most. Previously more of a box-to-box midfielder, he has been entrusted with the role of a number six by Fonseca, who takes responsibility for organizing Lyon’s play from deep.

“The manager gave me the reins to play my football and I love it,” he says. “There is no better position than number six, to constantly get on the ball, find passes between the lines and use my brain to dictate games. Paulo Fonseca is an incredible manager. He helped me so much. I discovered things I didn’t even know I had as a footballer.”