Liverpool prepares to face West Ham in the Premier League this weekend, but manager Arne Slot confirmed that midfielder Florian Wirtz will miss the clash due to a back injury sustained last weekend.
Wirtz Sidelined After Warm-Up Issue
The Germany international withdrew from the squad during the warm-up before Liverpool’s 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Sunday. Slot revealed in his pre-match press conference on Friday that Wirtz remains unavailable.
“Jeremie Frimpong trained with us a few times this week, so he’s available. But I don’t expect Florian Wirtz to be available,” Slot stated.
“It’s a disappointment. Every time a player is not available is a disappointment; it’s something that I didn’t expect after last week.”
No Clear Return Date
When asked about a potential return timeline, Slot admitted uncertainty. “At this moment, I don’t know. Usually when I say that, I do know and don’t want to share it. But this time, I honestly don’t know,” he explained.
Slot praised Wirtz’s resilience in adapting to the Premier League demands. “It’s a big accomplishment for Wirtz to stay fit for such a long time because he had to make a step up from where he played to the Premier League and Liverpool. It tells a lot about his mentality and work rate that he has stayed fit for so long.”
“It is a disappointment for him and for us, because he has played really, really well lately.”
