Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed the latest team news regarding the midfielder’s back injury. After missing back-to-back wins over Nottingham Forest and West Ham, Wirtz’s availability is the primary concern for a Liverpool side hunting a Champions League spot.
The reigning Premier League champions had to ride a storm at points up against Nuno Espirito Santo’s West Ham United on Saturday, as a spirited second-half comeback at Anfield from the Hammers nearly became the Reds unravelling.
Thankfully, though, a three-goal cushion heading into a frantic second 45 minutes helped, as Liverpool ended the action-packed contest as triumphant 5-2 winners.
Liverpool managed to collect this win despite injury issues troubling them as of late, as Joe Gomez came into the side at the depleted right-back spot.
Thankfully, Slot does have Jeremie Frimpong he can call upon in this position, too, but he was only afforded a late cameo on the weekend, as he recovers from his own injury setbacks.
Frimpong could perhaps be in line for a starting opportunity against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday night, after he gave the Reds some much-needed energy towards the close of the goal-filled showdown.
Wirtz won’t be so lucky, on the other hand, with Slot offering an update on when the skilful German will be back available for action, ahead of Liverpool’s double-whammy against Wolves, and their last 16 tie with Galatasaray in the Champions League.
Slot’s update on Wirtz’s injury
Slot will want to guard against injuries piling up on Merseyside, with three fixtures hurtling Liverpool’s way in seven days.
Therefore, it wasn’t the greatest shock in the world to hear the Dutchman state that Wirtz will be unavailable for the double-header against Rob Edwards’ men.
Slot said: “The game probably comes too soon tomorrow, and maybe the game at the weekend.
We hope to have him back next week.”
Slot looks to have his fingers crossed that the German will be back for that Champions League clash at Rams Park, with the quick flurry of games against Wolves deemed as too soon for the ex-Bayer Leverkusen man to return.
Dominik Szoboszlai will likely fill in for Wirtz in this number ten spot, with the versatile midfielder even picking up an assist from this role against West Ham, as Virgil Van Dijk connected with the Hungarian’s first-half corner kick.
Wirtz’s Champions League form this season:
| Stat | Wirtz |
| Games played | 7 |
| Goals scored | 1 |
| Assists | 2 |
Yet, with one goal and two assists next to the £116m playmaker’s name in the Champions League this season, Slot will be clamouring for his return, as Wirtz’s back injury problems continue to wreak havoc throughout the camp.
