Image for “Quite optimistic…” – Liverpool have been handed big injury boost before Chelsea clash
Image for “Quite optimistic…” – Liverpool have been handed big injury boost before Chelsea clash
Liverpool have been boosted by the news that Florian Wirtz is likely to be passed fit for their EFL Cup fourth round meeting with Chelsea at Anfield.
The Reds are looking to book a place in the quarter-finals on Wednesday night, with Andoni Iraola previewing another showdown with good friend Xabi Alonso:
“I think we’ve done already, I don’t know, maybe 25 interviews talking about our relationship, and I can talk again. But I think in this moment everyone knows that we were close friends, we grew up together, we played in the same team. We played as football players against each other, we played together in the national team in Spain and with the Basque Country.
“But now he’s the opposition and we want to beat him – and the same way he will do with us. After the game, we can talk, definitely. I said the other day with Inigo and it’s the same with Xabi, once we are playing against each other, the relationship is not good because you kind of stop talking to the other, kind of a respect thing. But he’s a very good friend and I wish him all the best, definitely.”
Speaking to the media, Iraola also provided a positive fitness update on Wirtz, as well as the latest on Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Munoz, with the German having a good chance of facing Chelsea:
“I don’t think I can help you a lot. We still have to wait, we train later. We want to [use] this last day. He was quite fine, Florian – I’m quite optimistic that he will be available. And with Dom and Victor, I’m not so sure. I don’t want to say no, but I think it’s going to be more difficult than Florian, yes.”
Should Florian Wirtz start for Liverpool vs. Chelsea?
Having Wirtz available against Chelsea is great news for Liverpool, following a good performance in the 2-0 win over Brighton, but it would arguably be a surprise if Iraola chose to start him at Anfield.
The Reds’ head coach needs to have one eye on Sunday’s vital Premier League clash with Arsenal at Anfield, so wrapping him in cotton wool makes plenty of sense.
The same applies to plenty of other key figures, including Alisson, Virgil van Dijk and Alexander Isak, so expect to see Iraola ring the changes on Wednesday evening.
That said, this is still an important game in its own right, so Liverpool will still be strong, as they look to get the better of one of their biggest Premier League rivals.