Liverpool are without multiple players for their Premier League clash with West Ham United at Anfield after Arne Slot provided an injury update before the match
Arne Slot during a training session
Arne Slot will be without Florian Wirtzfor Liverpool's clash vs West Ham(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Florian Wirtz is one of eight Liverpool and West Ham United players ruled out of their Premier League match at Anfield. Arne Slot has confirmed the Germany international is not available and that there is no potential return date.
Wirtz was due to start at the City Ground against Nottingham Forest before a back injury forced a late line-up change. Curtis Jones replaced the attacking midfielder, with backup goalkeeper Freddie Woodman taking his place among the substitutes.
Slot said afterwards that they "don't think it is very serious" and expected him to be back for the West Ham match. However, that stance has changed, with the head coach conceding it was a disappointment and something he "didn't expect" after the Forest win.
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"Sometimes that's how things can evolve," Slot said, and after being asked whether he had anything to add about how long Wirtz will be out, he replied: "No. Usually I do, but don't want to share it, but I honestly don't know."
However, there is positive news about Jeremie Frimpong after missing the last month with a hamstring injury. Slot said: "Jeremie trained with us a few times this week; he is available."
Wirtz replaces Frimpong as the fifth Liverpool player out for this match. Alexander Isak (leg), Conor Bradley (knee), Giovanni Leoni (knee) and Wataru Endo (foot) are the other long-term absentees, with only Endo and Isak having any chance of playing again this season.
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West Ham, however, have a relatively healthy squad to choose from, with January signing Pablo Felipe the only outfield absentee through injury. Nuno Espirito Santo confirmed on Thursday that the striker is still on an individual programme and not back in training yet.
Their head coach also said: "[Elsewhere in the squad] there are always things to assess. We have another training session tomorrow (Friday), and then we will travel."
Lukasz Fabianski is also sidelined, but is their third-choice goalkeeper, so the 40-year-old was always unlikely to play. Freddie Potts is their other notable absentee, with the midfielder missing the second match of a three-game suspension after being sent off in their FA Cup fourth round tie against Burton Albion.
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