Tyler Morton reveals what Xabi Alonso privately told him on the phone before he left Liverpool

Arne Slot must be wondering whether he made a mistake in barely using Tyler Morton during their season together at Liverpool.

Of course, having breezed to a Premier League title in his maiden campaign on Merseyside, the Dutchman may ask how he could have even a single regret.

Nevertheless, with question marks arising over the balance of Liverpool‘s midfield this season, utilising Morton a little more could have kept him around to kick on in 2025/26.

Instead, the Liverpool academy graduate became disillusioned and seemingly had no choice but to leave.

Morton has spoken out against Slot’s decision to overlook him this week, and has been showing why he may be right with some excellent performances at Lyon.

After Morton drew comparisons with Xabi Alonso from teammates while at Liverpool, his good form should be no surprise. And according to the 22-year-old, Alonso himself is a big fan.

Xabi Alonso rates Tyler Morton highly

As Liverpool search for a player who can complete their midfield, Morton could easily have been the answer.

The Scouser is technically gifted, calm in possession and fierce in the tackle. As he is showing at Lyon, he has a career at the top level of European football waiting for him.

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Rewind to 2024, and Alonso had clearly noticed this, too. Reports from the summer of that year claimed that Bayer Leverkusen were trying to sign Morton, and speaking to Sport Bible this week, the midfielder has confirmed those claims, revealing a private chat with Alonso himself.

“It’s a funny story,” Morton says. “I was on a golf course with my mates at the time. I got a text from my agent, who said: ‘Xabi Alonso’s going to call you soon’. I’d heard about the move but didn’t speak about it too much because I’d been told I wasn’t leaving Liverpool.

“I’d just hit a nice drive and was on for my first par of the day,. I had to bin it off, but it was definitely worth it!”

Asked what the now Real Madrid boss had said to him, Morton claims he got a dream seal of approval from Alonso.

“He told me how highly he rates me as a player,” he says. “They wanted to sign me.”

Liverpool blocked Alonso and Morton link-up

While it would have been fascinating to see Morton develop under a manager who he models his game on, Slot and Liverpool had no interest in seeing the Leverkusen move happen.

“They (Leverkusen) came in quite late that summer, but I spoke to the manager (Slot) about it and Liverpool wanted me to stay,” says Morton. “I spoke to my agent, and we were pushing a move, but it was difficult.

“Liverpool told me I couldn’t leave at the time, which was fair enough, but if you want to go and play, then you’ve got to push it. I asked the manager. He was open with me and said he was going to keep me around. Nothing was going to change his mind.

“He needed me around the team as back-up. Some players have to take that role, and that’s the role he decided for me. I’ll be honest, it wasn’t ideal. I wanted to be starting games. If that was at Liverpool – the club I love – then incredible. But it wasn’t going to be.”

He’s certainly starting games now, and with Alonso a known admirer, perhaps Morton may even have his eyes on a move to the Santiago Bernabeu, or maybe a return to Liverpool somewhere down the line.

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