It was the 19-year-old’s third senior appearance of the season after appearing in the clubs’ two Carabao Cup fixtures of the season to date.

Morton played 45 minutes against Norwich City and started the team’s 2-0 win over Preston at the base of a midfield three.

He replaced Thiago Alcantara in the 84th minute on Saturday, running onto the Anfield pitch in front of 50,000 fans for the final minutes of the game – the 50,000in attendance included his family.

“As you can see on my face, I can’t wipe the smile off it!” Morton told Liverpoolfc.com.

“It’s a different feeling to any other feeling, especially your boyhood club, as everyone will know. Being a fan all my life and now stepping on the pitch, it felt surreal.

“But that’s where I want to be, so that’s where I’m going to push to be.”

Morton has excelled for Liverpool’s Under-23’s this season and his performances across all competitions for them has earned him spots on the bench in important games such as the Arsenal clash.

His showing in the UEFA Youth League in particular have caught the eye of fans and staff at the club, with his ability to control games evident.

It was fitting that that was his first task as a Premier League player when he replaced Liverpool’s regular conductor, Thiago.

“I was straight in the zone, no messing about for me! I was straight into the game, making sure we secured the win, making sure I kept the ball and doing everything I normally do nicely. It all went to plan in the end.

“My family – everyone dreamed of being a Liverpool footballer and I’ve gone and done it. They tell me every day going to training how proud they are of me. And it just felt so good doing it for them and doing it for my best mate.

“And especially the manager and the players I’m working with are different class, to get a warm ‘well done’ off them is just amazing.”

After Morton’s performances this season at both U23 and senior level, more appearances under Jurgen Klopp are certain to come his way.

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Liverpool progressed to the quarter-finals after a 2-0 victory in a match that saw two youngsters earn their first starts for the senior team and others get game time off the bench.

The German manager was impressed once again by 18-year-old Tyler Morton, who had previously made his debut for the club in the third round of the competition against Norwich City.

Morton earned his first start for the side at the base of the midfield three and his passing and vision helped Liverpool to fashion chances and find the net.

“Tyler is obviously a real talent, a real smart footballer. You can see this,” Klopp said after the match. “His natural movements, natural positions, are really good, so he is a real football-smart boy and the technique is really good.

“Now we have to make sure we help him with getting a body for football – he is not too small and not too skinny, but there is still a little bit to come and we have to make him ready for all that. It was a very positive impact again tonight.”

Harvey Blair was taken off at half-time after Liverpool struggled to string chances together but Conor Bradley came on in his place, pushing Neco Williams to the right wing.

The Northern Irish right-back produced a solid performance and Williams shone in the new role.

Klopp sees the upcoming international break as a chance for these youngsters to prove themselves.

“Elijah [Dixon-Bonnar (substitute)], for example, did exactly that. In the last international break he was incredible.

“He’s been long in the club already but was not really on the radar – and now all of a sudden he is there. He deserved these three or four minutes tonight.

“For a young boy, it’s a massive thing to play your first game for the first team and I’m really happy for him that we could give him the opportunity.

“So, there’s always a spot for these young boys. Owen Beck obviously impressed a lot in the pre-season, like Conor did. It’s good to have them.

“The problem is in the international break some of them are as well on tour with the national teams, so then they cannot train with us. But the others can and that’s good.”

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Morton played all 90 minutes of the match, the only midfielder to do so, and further impressed after his 45-minute debut against Norwich City in the previous round.

His passing and vision were on display once again as he opened up the chance for Takumi Minamino’s opener.

“It’s very emotional,” Morton told Liverpoolfc.com post-match.

“My whole family are here and people who have supported Liverpool for years like my mates, they were here watching me and it gets emotional.

“Clapping the fans at the end, it’s just a boyhood dream and one I’ve dreamed of since I was born really because I’ve been coming to the games since I was three or four. I can’t really express the feeling.”

Morton made his debut for the senior team against Norwich last month alongside underage teammates Conor Bradley and Kaide Gordon and played alongside Harvey Blair tonight.

The Wirral-born midfielder has made 13 appearances for the Liverpool underage sides this season and has impressed in the UEFA Youth League under Marc Bridge-Wilkinson.

He had previously been on an exceptionally talented underage club side Greenleas JFC before he joined the academy.

Morton relishes the step-up to the senior level: “Yeah because I’m not used to first-team football and I’ve just come into it.

Hopefully, I can get more chances to prove myself. At the start of the game, it’s not like U23s or U18s football [because] you can’t really hear yourself think.

“The fans are loud and it’s a tough test but that’s what I like, a tough test.”

He noted that he is focused on taking his budding career game-by-game rather than dreaming of a Carabao Cup quarter-final appearance.

“I just take every game in my stride really, whatever game it is, and see how it goes. If I am in his plans or if I’m not I am always going to be happy to be part of the club and that’s what I’m like.”

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Takumi Minamino scored four minutes into the game and added another early in the second half before Divock Origi killed the tie with a third for the side while left-back Kostas Tsimikas was instrumental throughout.

However, it was the Redmen’s young guns that caught the eye on their big nights as the trio seamlessly slotted into the system that Liverpool use.

Northern Irish right-back Conor Bradley was adept at making use of the right half-space in between the midfield and the right flank.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is known for making use of this area of the pitch when providing support in attack.

Bradley’s time in the Liverpool academy and with the Northern Irish senior side showcases his ability to join the midfield and help sustain pressure on the opposition.

However, the Tyrone native gave away a penalty towards the end of the first half but Kelleher, who hails from the same island, made sure the debutant’s mistake was not costly.

Summer signing Ibrahima Konate also helped the 18-year-old in his first game for the senior team, often occupying the right flank to cut out counter-attacks.

Kaide Gordon, born in 2004, made his anticipated debut at Carrow Road on the right wing and linked up well with Bradley.

Gordon worked hard and did well on the back to force his way into spaces and create goalscoring opportunities.

He was the only member of the front three that did not get himself a goal but it was not for lack of trying on the night the former Derby County player became Liverpool’s fifth youngest-ever player at 16 years and 351 days.

Liverpool leaked counter-attacks in the first-half as the midfield that looked like it lacked a defensive presence on paper lacked a defensive presence.

Neither of the three starting midfielders were objectively bad and all added something to the Liverpool attack but a natural six was needed.

Step up Tyler Morton for his first 45 minutes under Jurgen Klopp – Naby Keita went the other way after picking up what appeared to be a minor muscle injury.

Morton was given lots of time and space on the ball by the hosts and did well with it as he became the assured presence that calmed the eight-time league cup winners’ midfield.

The U23 star made 31 passes while only taking 39 touches and also helped in defence, filling in for those who had left a space in the back four.

On a night that could have been so unspectacular for Liverpool, one cannot help but feel impressed by the seamless integration the youngsters had into the senior side’s style of play.

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