Arne Slot says Liverpool midfielder Tyler Morton faces up to a month on the sidelines with a shoulder injury after the 22-year-old failed to secure a move away from the Reds on deadline day.

Morton had been tipped to leave Liverpool in the January transfer window after making just five appearances for the Reds this season, with interest in the homegrown talent high after successful loan moves to Blackburn and Hull.

Middlesbrough made a bid of around £10m to sign him on Monday, but the deal never materialised with Liverpool seeking more money for their academy product, who was linked with a move to Bayer Leverkusen in the summer.



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Slot started James McConnell, 20, ahead of Morton in last week's heavily rotated side for the Champions League clash at PSV Eindhoven, and when discussing his potential involvement in Sunday's FA Cup fourth round clash at Plymouth, the Dutchman admitted Morton is now set for a long spell on the sidelines.

"You watched PSV as well and what I saw was him competing with the other midfielders, he is competing with them, always gives everything he has," said Slot on McConnell?

"Morton is out with an injury for a while, so that means he was maybe our sixth midfielder and James is taking that position now, so it's him doing well and the injury to Morton." Elaborating on the Morton injury, he added: "Am I allowed to say.

Tyler Morton will be out for up to a month.

Morton had spoken about his desire to get first-team football after his appearance against Accrington Stanley in the third round of the FA Cup last month.

“This month’s obviously a big month for myself,” he said.

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