**Florian Wirtz has a chance of making Liverpool’s matchday squad for the FA Cup fifth round clash with Wolves on Friday evening, following an injury absence.**
The Reds travel to Molineux for the second time in three days, looking to respond to the late 2-1 defeat in the Premier League on Tuesday night, in another big blow in a poor season for Arne Slot and his players.
For Wirtz, it has been a frustrating period after finding an impressive run of form, with the German missing for Liverpool since suffering a back injury in the warm-up away to Nottingham Forest last month.
The 22-year-old is now pushing hard to be back in the fold for the FA Cup clash with Wolves, however, with [Slot](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/wolverhampton-wanderers-v-liverpool-fa-cup-team-news) confirming as much to the media, saying:
_“He \[Wirtz\] trained half and half yesterday with the team. What I mean with that is he was a ‘joker’, you say over here I think, so he made the next step in his rehab. So, let’s see where he is today and if he then could be available for a few – a few – minutes tomorrow, in the best scenario.”_
**Should Liverpool keep Florian Wirtz fresh for Galatasaray?**
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The fact that Wirtz is pushing to be in the squad for Friday’s game can only be a positive, with Liverpool’s No.7 becoming such a key player after a slow start, and his absence leading to a lack of creativity of late.
Slot must be careful that he doesn’t rush the Germany international back soon, though, especially with next Tuesday’s trip to Galatasaray in the Champions League around the corner.
That is a bigger match than the Wolves one, even though reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals is clearly important, so Wirtz needs to be wrapped in cotton wool until then if there are any doubts about his fitness.
But in an ideal world, he will be fit enough to enjoy a cameo appearance at Molineux, earning him some much-needed match practice, before playing a more prominent role in Turkey, as Liverpool look to take a lead back to Anfield in their last-16 tie.