Liverpool take on Wolves in the Premier League this evening with several key players for Arne Slot set to be unavailable through injury
Florian Wirtz during a Liverpool training session
Florian Wirtz has been ruled out of Wolves vs Liverpool through injury(Image: (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))
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Liverpool will be looking to pick up a fifth consecutive victory on Tuesday evening when they face Wolves in Premier League action. Arne Slot's side are firmly in the battle for Champions League football next season with Chelsea, Manchester United and Aston Villa.
The latter dropped points at Molineux last weekend with Liverpool hoping to avoid a similar slip-up. However, Slot will be forced to contend this clash without Florian Wirtz, who has still not recovered from a back injury picked up last month.
Slot said on the Germany international: "The game [vs Wolves] will probably come too soon, and maybe the game in the weekend [in the FA Cup] as well, but let's see how it ends up. But we hope to have him back somewhere next week."
Having recently welcomed Jeremie Frimpong and Joe Gomez back into the fold, it is only long-term absentees currently unavailable with Wataru Endo the latest to join that list after undergoing surgery.
"I’ve heard that he had surgery," Slot admitted in late February. "I’ve heard that it went well, but I don’t know the details..
"The plan is for him to be ready in time for the World Cup, so the rehab 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."
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The Japan international has joined Conor Bradley and Alexander Isak as Liverpool players to have had an operation in the last few months. The latter is closer to returning though, with Slot able to offer a positive update recently.
He said: "Alex has been on the pitch with his running shoes for the first time this week, so it will still be a while... The next step is doing work with the ball, and then going into the group - it takes a while before you're ready to play. Let's not put a timescale on it, but it's clear he will be available if things go as planned this season."
Giovanni Leoni is Liverpool's other injury absentee with the young defender recovering from a major knee injury suffered on his debut back in September.
Hwang Hee-chan in action for Wolves
Wolves forward Hwang Hee-chan is set to return from injury against Liverpool(Image: Michael Zemanek/Shutterstock)
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As for Wolves, Rob Edwards has been handed some big boosts with Ladislav Krejci back after serving a one-match ban. Hwang Hee-chan is also available for selection again, with Edwards admitting on Monday that he has "got a fully fit squad to pick from".
The South Korean forward had missed the last few weeks with a calf injury. Andre hobbled off in last Friday's win over Villa but Edwards' latest update suggests the Brazil international will be fine to play against Liverpool.
Young winger Enso Gonzalez has been on the bench for a few Wolves games earlier in the season but has not been named in a Premier League matchday squad since early January. His last five omissions have been because of injury with the 21-year-old not expected back until April, as per Edwards.
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