Liverpool, thankfully, did not suffer any new injuries in the first of two games against Wolves, and could now welcome Florian Wirtz back for the second.
The Reds head back to Molineux for the second match of the double header, and the same result will not be tolerated as the two meet for a place in the FA Cup quarter-final.
The 70-hour turnaround poses challenges for team selection, but Arne Slot‘s bench could be boosted by the return of their No. 7 after three games out with a back issue.
Liverpool Injury & Absentee List
|Player|Injury Type|Status|Expected Return|
|Florian Wirtz|Back|Doubt|Wolves (A)/Galatasaray (A)|
|Alexander Isak|Fibula Fracture|Unavailable|Late March|
Wataru Endo Ankle Unavailable June
Conor Bradley Knee (Surgery) Unavailable Pre-season
Giovanni Leoni ACL (Surgery) Unavailable Next season
Stefan Bajcetic Hamstring Rehab March
Jayden Danns Hamstring Rehab March
Wirtz has not featured since he pulled out of the starting lineup at Nottingham Forest last month, but he did return to parts of training on Wednesday.
It left Slot to explain that the best-case scenario for the German would be to come off the bench for “a few” minutes, and he certainly stressed “a few.”
Although his role would be limited, if he is fit to be named in the squad, it would be a boost for the Reds knowing he’s closer to a full return ahead of their Champions League last 16 tie.
The 22-year-old is the only player who could mark his return, and if so, it would likely come at the cost of Kieran Morrison‘s place on the bench.
Thankfully, Slot told reporters on the eve of the match that no new fitness issues arose from the Premier League meeting at Wolves, meaning his selection choices are the same.
The head coach did, however, mention the upcoming schedule of five games in 16 days, which could prompt a few players to be managed for the FA Cup tie.
Jeremie Frimpong is likely to be among them after making his first start on Tuesday on return from a groin injury, with Joe Gomez likely to take over at right-back.
Milos Kerkez, Alexis Mac Allister and Hugo Ekitike could also have a role off the bench instead of from the start, though that decision will rest with Slot and his coaches.
There are just 70 hours between Tuesday’s final whistle and the first whistle on Friday, which could prove timely for the likes of Andy Robertson, Curtis Jones and Rio Ngumoha.
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, Wirtz*, Ekitike, Gakpo, Chiesa, Ngumoha, Morrison
*Doubt