Former Liverpool midfielder Tyler Morton has spoken about winning the league with the Reds and his decision to leave the club for Lyon in the summer transfer window.
Tyler Morton feels he has no choice but to leave Liverpool in the summer and is currently loving life at Lyon. The young midfielder had mixed feelings about not being able to play as well as he had hoped, even though he had achieved his dream of winning the Premier League with his hometown club.
Morton, 23, left Anfield after 17 years in search of more playing time. The £15 million midfielder made 21 appearances for his new club and started every available Ligue 1 game, in contrast to the 11 he played under Arne Slott last season.
The academy product was denied a move to Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2024, but was also plagued by injuries as he was unable to force himself into the slot’s on-field plans. Although Morton still enjoyed success, he also remained dissatisfied.
Morton admitted that the competition he faced in the middle of the field caused problems. And the Lyon star is happy with his current situation.
“Last year was fantastic,” Morton told Mail Online. “As a Liverpool fan and a Reds boy, if you had told me when I was younger that I would be part of a Premier League winning team, I would have bitten your hand. I would have done anything for that. It was unbelievable.”
read more: Appointed key staff member of Liverpool AX following complaints about Virgil van Dijk and Arne Slott’s aerial duelread more: Cristiano Ronaldo confirms retirement plans, opens door to surprise transfer
“But of course it was very frustrating at times. It was my club, my favorite club, so I really wanted to win. I wanted to be a Liverpool player. So when I realized that I wanted and needed to leave, it was difficult.”
“I really felt that I was ready to play for Liverpool. But there are different managers and different styles. Whatever he wants. Of course I was playing behind some great footballers like Ryan (Gravenberch), Dom (Szoboszlai) and Alexis (Mac Allister), so I was grateful for that.”
“But now I love Lyon. I love it. It’s a nice place to live and play football. I’m really enjoying playing again. Last season was obviously difficult. This season it’s great to be playing in front of the fans, especially the Lyon fans, because they’re so passionate.”
“It’s a huge club with a lot of history. I couldn’t say no. It’s a warm and nice place for my family to call home. The style of football that this manager (Paulo Fonseca) plays is perfect for me. It ticked a lot of boxes. It was a big decision for me to leave home and the one I know best, but I’m ready.”
Morton believes joining Lyon was the ideal move for him, but he still benefits from his links with Liverpool. “For players my age, it’s great to go out and experience different cultures, different countries, different people,” he added.
“My mate Jarrell (Quansah from Bayer Leverkusen) has been doing great since he went abroad. Sometimes the answer is not to stay in England or the Premier League, but to go to a big club in a different country and learn a lot. I’m definitely finding myself and I’m really happy here.”
“My friends and the people I grew up with knew I was ready to play for a big club and they have been nothing but great for me. I have lifelong friends at Liverpool. I grew up with Conor Bradley since I was 11 or 12 and I’ve known Jarrell since I was four or five.
“And I’m very, very good friends with Harvey (Elliott). They’re my closest mates and I go see them when I’m home. They watch my games as much as possible and it’s great to get feedback from players who are playing at such a high level. It’s great to have friends like that in football.”
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive Mirror Football content every day. Community members also receive special offers, promotions, and advertisements from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can always check out. If you are interested, please read our privacy notice.
Sky Sports Premier League and EFL package discounts
£43
£35
sky
Get the deal here
Sky has reduced the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 on their bill and offering more than 1,400 live matches from the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will broadcast at least 215 live Premier League matches next season, with an increase of up to 100 more.
