Tyler Morton Exclusive: 'I Couldn't Be More Thankful To Jurgen Klopp For What He Has Done For Me'

"When the Champions League anthem was playing, I looked up and realised how big this moment was. Then I remembered what he [Jurgen [Klopp] said to me before the game. It took a big weight off my shoulders. It gave me so much confidence."

On November 24, 2021, at around 7:57pm, Wirral-born midfielder Tyler Morton was moments away from making his Champions League debut against FC Porto when the sheer magnitude of the occasion began to sink in.

Four days earlier, Morton was given his first taste of Premier League action, coming on as an 84th-minute substitute against Arsenal. But this was a different type of pressure. There was no four-goal advantage and ultimately, he was handed a first team start in Europe's most elite competition.

The world was watching.

Standing next to Ibrahima Konate and Kostas Tsimikas, the famous anthem echoed around a capacity Anfield when some words of pre-match wisdom from Jurgen Klopp provided Morton with a timely reminder of his role. 

It is why the German is regarded as one of the best coaches in world football.

"He told me that if anything goes wrong today then it's not on my back, it's on his," Morton tells SPORTbible. "He basically wanted me to know that he is experienced enough to not just throw me in at the deep end. He wanted me to know that I am good enough.

"Those words help you become a better player," he added. "I didn't feel nervous from that moment on and that was because of our chat. It made me open up and play forward with my first few touches. I was away after that. He's one of the best managers in the world for it. He has been unbelievable to me."

Morton went on to produce an almost faultless performance in the middle of the park. He made two interceptions, more than any other