By LEWIS STEELE, FOOTBALL REPORTER
Published: 07:19 EST, 27 February 2026 | Updated: 07:19 EST, 27 February 2026
A big weekend of Premier League action awaits and several managers are taking their press conferences today to preview the matches. Stay here with Daily Mail Sport for all the latest...
Slot confirms Wirtz to miss West Ham clash
Liverpool will be without key man Florian Wirtz again for the visit of West Ham on Saturday.
The Premier League champions struggled without their German creator-in-chief last weekend at Nottingham Forest, needing a stoppage-time goal to win a tight game.
Wirtz hurt his back in the warm-up at the City Ground and Liverpool hoped it was only a minor issue, Slot saying after the match that he expected him back for the next game.
But the £116m summer signing will not play this week, either.
'I don't expect Florian to be available, so that is a disappointment, of course,' said Slot. 'Every time when a player is not available is a disappointment and also something I didn't expect after last week, but sometimes that is how things can evolve, and this time not in a positive way.'
Pushed on if he had a more definitive timeframe, Slot replied: 'No, at this moment of time. Usually, when I say that I do know that but don't want to share that, but now I honestly don't know.
Florian Wirtz will be absent when Liverpool host West Ham at Anfield on Saturday
'He has a rhythm of course. It is a big accomplishment of him that he stayed fit for such a long time because he had to make a step from where he played towards Liverpool and the Premier League.
'That he stays fit all the time tells you a lot about the mentality and the work rate of the player, and the performance staff, but this week and last week he is not available and that's a disappointment for him and us because he played really well lately.'
The Reds will be boosted, though, by the return of right back Jeremie Frimpong. The Dutchman has missed the last five games with a groin problem and midfielders such as Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo have been needed to fill in at right back.
LEWIS STEELE
IRAOLA CONFIRMS COOK BLOW
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has revealed midfielder Lewis Cook has sustained a hamstring injury and will be out of action for a number of weeks.
The 29-year-old will miss the Cherries' upcoming Premier League clash with Sunderland when they will be looking to extend their seven-match unbeaten run and continue their push for Europe.
Cook has had a stop-start campaign so far following a knee injury at the start of the season and a three-match suspension in December and that is set to continue.
Iraola said: 'We did an MRI after he felt something the day before the last game against West Ham. He has a hamstring injury.
'I think he will be out some weeks. I think he will try, but I think it's going to be difficult that he comes (back) before the international break. Then we are talking about two or three weeks. Probably he will be out before the break.'