Florian Wirtz has missed Liverpool's last two matches with a back injury and manager Arne Slot has given an update ahead of the first of two trips to Wolves on Tuesday
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool
Florian Wirtz is still out injured(Image: Andrew Powell/Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Florian Wirtz is likely to sit out of Liverpool's next two matches, with the club planning to manage his return from a back injury. Wirtz has missed the wins over Nottingham Forest and West Ham and manager Arne Slot says he will likely be absent for the back-to-back fixtures against Wolves.
Wirtz had enjoyed a good period of form in 2026, with four goals and two assists over a six-game run in January. But he was withdrawn from the side which beat Forest 1-0 on February 22 after injuring himself in the warm-up.
The German playmaker was also missing from the 5-2 win over West Ham on Saturday and Tuesday's Premier League game against bottom side Wolves will come too soon.
"Not anything different to what I said after the game," Slot said when asked about Wirtz in a pre-match press conference on Monday morning. "The game probably comes too soon tomorrow and maybe the game at the weekend. We hope to have him back next week."
Speaking before the West Ham game, Slot explained the situation in more detail. "At this moment in time, I don't know," he said on a possible timeline. "Usually when I say that, I do know and I don't want to share that. But this time, I honestly don't know.
"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."
Wirtz has six goals and eight assists in 35 appearances for Liverpool since making a £116million move from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer. He had settled into a rhythm in January but won't be rushed back, with a trip to Galatasaray in the Champions League next Tuesday a possible target.
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool
Florian Wirtz is still out with a back complaint(Image: Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Slot did welcome back Jeremie Frimpong against West Ham following a month on the sidelines. "Right-back isn't the only position where we have struggled but it stands out most," he said when asked about the Dutchman.
"Having Jeremie back is nice. We have to take into account a lot of games especially players who come back from injuries. But we know the importance of every game now. But I'm not the only one to have that.
"I prefer to manage how many minutes he can be given rather than see him with the medical team."
Liverpool now face Wolves in the Premier League on Tuesday and FA Cup on Friday, with both games taking place at Molineux. Asked about the quirk of the schedule, Slot said: "Usually the only people it's helpful for are the analysts and me. Allows us to analyse them."
Join our LFC WhatsApp community and get all the latest LFC news, views, transfer gossip and more, as it happens We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Content Image
Content Image