Liverpool will be without Florian Wirtz for their first meeting of the week against Wolves, but Jeremie Frimpong is now back in contention to start.
Since sustaining an injury in the warm-up at Nottingham Forest, Arne Slot has been asked in every press conference about Wirtz’s fitness. Thankfully, he has now provided a timeframe for his return.
Liverpool Injury & Absentee List
|Player|Injury Type|Status|Expected Return|
|Florian Wirtz|Back|Unavailable|Galatasaray (A)|
Wataru Endo Ankle Unavailable June
Alexander Isak Fibula Fracture Unavailable Late March
Conor Bradley Knee (Surgery) Unavailable Pre-season
Giovanni Leoni ACL (Surgery) Unavailable Next season
Stefan Bajcetic Hamstring Rehab March
Jayden Danns Hamstring Rehab March
Such has been the growing importance of Wirtz to Liverpool’s setup that there were worries over how the Reds would fare without him against West Ham.
Slot’s side came through Saturday’s test comfortably at Anfield and will hope to do the same when they face Wolves at Molineux on Tuesday.
Speaking ahead of the Premier League encounter, Slot said of his No. 7’s availability: “The game tomorrow will probably come too soon, and maybe the game at the weekend as well, but let’s see how it ends up.
“We hope to have him back sometime next week; maybe a bit earlier, maybe a bit later, but that timescale.”
Having come off the bench for his first minutes after missing five matches with a groin problem, Frimpong will be available to start, though Joe Gomez is arguably the more likely option at right-back.
Slot said: “Having Jeremie back is really nice, but indeed, what you are saying does go through your mind because of the fact we play three games in seven days.
“Because if we play Galatasaray, we have the early kickoff afterwards at Brighton, 12.30, so those things you have to take into account, especially with players who come back from injuries.
“But we also know the importance of every single game, and that is a challenge our staff, the player himself, and the manager has, but I’m not the only one who has that.
“I prefer to have this problem to manage, how many minutes do I have to give him, than to see him with the medical staff doing his recovery.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, January 27, 2026: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister (L) and Jeremie Frimpong during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and Qaraba? FK. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Among the rest of Liverpool’s absentees, Jayden Danns is the closest to a return as he is now involved in non-contact training with the under-21s. The FA Cup game on Friday should be too soon for the striker, though.
Fellow forward Alexander Isak is also on the road to recovery. The Swedish national team are hoping to have him involved in some capacity for their World Cup qualifiers at the end of March.
Like Isak, Wataru Endo has had to undergo surgery for his latest injury, with the midfielder’s ankle going under the knife in his native Japan at the end of February.
Japan’s manager, Hajime Moriyasu, commented: “The plan is for him to be ready in time for the World Cup, so the rehabilitation process from surgery onwards is being considered.
“In order to play in the World Cup, he, the club, and we all share the same understanding.”
Should Northern Ireland qualify, **Conor Bradley**‘s aim will also be to feature at the World Cup in June.
**Giovanni Leoni**‘s absence will last longer, however, with the defender expected to miss at least some of pre-season due to his ACL injury sustained in September.
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Liverpool’s available squad vs. Wolves
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Mamardashvili, Woodman
Defenders: Van Dijk, Konate, Gomez, Nallo, Frimpong, Kerkez, Robertson, Ramsay
Midfielders: Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones, Nyoni
Forwards: Salah, Ekitike, Gakpo, Chiesa, Ngumoha, Morrison