Florian Wirtz had been set to start in Liverpool’s tricky match against bogey team Nottingham Forest on Sunday, but was replaced by Curtis Jones after an issue in the warm-up. Speaking after the fact, Liverpool boss Arne Slot clarified that the German attacker didn’t so much pick up an injury as feel a bit off — and Slot and his team chose not to risk him.
Slot is optimistic about Wirtz’s ability to feature in upcoming matches:
“We don’t think it is very serious, but he felt his back too much during the warm-up to start.
“He wasn’t able to be 100 per cent or even close to 100 per cent. I think after being in this league for six, seven or eight months, he now understands no matter how good you are on the ball, you need to be 100 per cent at this level.
“So, we decided not to play him. We hope and expect he will be able to be with us again next week but you never know how things work out.”
Reds will hope this holds true, as Liverpool were decidedly not inspiring when lacking one of the most creative players thus far this season. As the Reds finished in the top eight of the Champions League Group Stage they mercifully have no mid-week game this week, next facing West Ham United at home on Saturday.
Slot and his team will hopefully have Wirtz back to “100 per cent” by the side’s next outing. Though most things went Liverpool’s way in the weekend’s fixtures — and with Manchester United currently drawing away to Everton — a very strong finish to the season is required to qualify for top-level European football next season, and a healthy Florian Wirtz will go a long way in aiding that strong finish.