Liverpool midfielder Tyler Morton has claimed that he’s constantly asked whether he’s jealous of the emergence of Stefan Bajcetic.
Bajcetic has taken Morton’s spot as the young midfielder to watch in the Liverpool squad this season. While Morton came through impressively last year, Bajcetic has shone even brighter in 2022/23.
But Morton is having a quietly excellent season of his own. The 20-year-old has grown into his role at promotion-chasing Blackburn Rovers, and is preparing for an FA Cup quarter-final tomorrow.
Speaking to The Times in anticipation of Sunday’s game, Morton was asked whether there are any ‘pangs of jealousy’ over what Bajcetic is doing at Anfield.
“I do get asked that question but I am my own player,” he replied. “Stefan is a top quality footballer and a really nice guy. I was absolutely buzzing for him watching him play. Stefan is my mate, team-mate, competition, all in one. I am not a thinker like: ‘Oh, it could have been me.’ I am thinking what I can change now to help me.”
Morton doing great at Blackburn
This is a superb attitude from a player who looks to be really growing into his skin in the Championship. Why should Morton be jealous? He already walked the path that Bajcetic is now 12 months ago.
Granted, the England U21 international hasn’t made quite the impression that young Stefan has. He never started quite so consistently in big games.
But he did have his moments. It’s easy to forget with him going out on-loan, but Morton absolutely lit up the San Siro last season in a dominating performance against AC Milan.
He held his own in a start away at Tottenham Hotspur and also purred in a Champions League clash with Porto. This is a player who could still be part of a future Liverpool midfield.
After a good beginning at Anfield, this season has been a little bit of a sink or swim scenario. As Leighton Clarkson showed before him, a poor loan spell in the lower divisions can be a bit of a death-knell to your Liverpool prospects.
But in contrast to Clarkson, Morton has shone at Ewood Park. Battling his way into the starting XI, the youngster has played 39 times. That’s a really good amount of football in a side currently sitting in fifth. At this point, it feels likely that another loan spell next season may follow for Morton. But you can’t rule out he and Bajcetic linking up in the first team.