The German has been a regular this season but missed out on Saturday's squad against Chelsea, less than 24 hours after Arne Slot said he expected him to be involved
11:30, 09 May 2026Updated 11:53, 09 May 2026
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 had a difficult first season at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Florian Wirtz missed Liverpool's Premier League game against Chelsea due to illness.
The German was something of a shock absence from the starting line-up, less than 24 hours after Arne Slot said he expected the German to be involved at Anfield.
However, Wirtz dropped out in place of Rio Ngumoha, one of three changes for the Chelsea encounter. Wirtz missed training on Wednesday, but asked about the former Bayer Leverkusen man on Friday, Slot replied: "Florian was a bit unwell but trained yesterday as well."
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The 23-year-old has started the last six Premier League games, and every match since recovering from a back injury in early March.
Wirtz scored on Liverpool's last Anfield outing, in the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace, but faced criticism following his contribution at Old Trafford last week.
"The one player I think has had a very easy ride is Florian Wirtz," claimed Jamie Carragher after Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat against Manchester United.
Florian Wirtz
Wirtz struggled to make an impact on the game at Old Trafford(Image: Getty Images)
"I've never moved clubs, let alone moved to a different country, but I think we've given him time.
"We've been very, very kind. I commentated on Liverpool away at Burnley earlier in the season, and I described Wirtz as being neat and tidy.
"I was being kind then. I wouldn't describe him as anything different right now. He's a year into his Liverpool career."
Wirtz was one of three changes to the team on Saturday, with Freddie Woodman and Andy Robertson dropping out.
Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Fulham
Ngumoha has impressed at Liverpool so far this season(Image: (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images))
Giorgi Mamardashvili, Milos Kerkez and Ngumoha have been named in the line-up, with the latter starting the third Premier League game of his career against his former club.
A win for Liverpool on Saturday would all but secure a top-five finish. If the Reds win and Bournemouth lose this weekend, a Champions League place will be guaranteed.
""Our fate is in our own hands, we have no need to rely on anyone else or to hope that fate might conspire in our favour. We just have to get the job done," Slot wrote in his pre-match notes.
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"The reality is that any progress that we make now will stand us in good stead for next season and the possibility of Champions League qualification is clearly part of this picture.
"From a financial perspective for the club and from a sporting point of view for the team, we know the importance of finishing in the top five and that is why it is always a priority."