Florian Wirtz has been left out of the Liverpool squad to take on Chelsea in the Premier League this afternoon despite Arne Slot saying he was back in training
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain FC at Anfield on April 14, 2026 in Liverpool, England
Florian Wirtz has been left out of the Liverpool squad to face Chelsea(Image: Getty Images)
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Florian Wirtz is NOT in the Liverpool squad to face Chelsea this afternoon.
Arne Slot explained in his pre-match press conference that Wirtz missed training earlier in the week through illness but said he was in contention to feature after returning on Thursday.
However, Wirtz has not made it in time to be in the 20-man contingent to take on the Blues at Anfield.
Wirtz is not the only notable absentee. Alisson Becker and Mohamed Salah both missing out through hamstring injuries, having not yet returned to full training.
There is better news elsewhere. Giorgi Mamardashvili is back in goal after recovering from a wound he sustained in the win at Everton last month, with Freddie Woodman dropping down to the bench.
Alexander Isak, meanwhile, is back in the squad and among the substitutes after missing the defeat to Manchester United last weekend. Cody Gakpo has been picked to lead the line, with Rio Ngumoha and Jeremie Frimpong out wide, and Dominik Szoboszlai in behind in the No.10 role.
Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister make up the defensive midfield two, while Milos Kerkez, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Curtis Jones are the back four.
The Reds host Chelsea looking to all-but secure a place in next season's Champions League. Should Slot's side win they would move nine points above sixth-place Bournemouth with three games left. As the Reds boast a much superior goal difference, qualification for Europe's elite club competition would be almost guaranteed.
Speaking about the Reds' ambitions ahead of facing Chelsea, Aston Villa and Brentford before the end of the season, Slot continued: "Usually goes hand in hand, good performance leads to results.
"The first and main aim is to qualify for the Champions League and we have shown this season we need a good performance to get results. The opposite has happened where we've had good performances and not a good result, and we've not often had a bad performance and a good result.
"We usually need a good performance to win a game."