Jurgen Klopp urges Tyler Morton not to model his game on Fabinho

Liverpool boss believes teenage midfielder Tyler Morton should not aim to play in defensive midfield the way that Fabinho does and he should instead play his own game.

Morton has made just four appearances for the Reds so far this season and was selected in their starting lineup to face Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday in place of the Brazil international.

Hopes are high for the 19-year-old, and while Klopp is excited at what the future holds for Morton, he says he should play his own game as Fabinho's cannot be replicated.

"The boy's ready," Klopp told BT Sport pre-game. "He's a smart kid, he knows. He's very excited, nervous for sure, we're human beings. But in the end it's all in his football because he's a good footballer.

"Nobody plays the six [position] like Fabinho, so why should he? He is a brilliant player, we have to be together to make sure the spaces are small enough for him to defend really well and that'll give him security, confidence. We have a really good 'baller' in that position."

Klopp made several changes with Liverpool's place in the last 16 as group winners already secure, and the German tactician admitted his relief at being able to rotate ahead of a busy period.

"There's some changes we needed to make, some because of the games we've played, some just because of tonight," he said. "I like the lineup a lot, I like the bench a lot. We have the most experienced bench I've ever had at Liverpool probably. We can [make substitutions] five times we'll do that. I really hope we can play a good game."