Slot “has no idea” on return date of world class midfielder

Slot Weighs Up Frimpong Boost as Wirtz Absence Clouds West Ham Clash

There are weeks in football when optimism arrives quietly, not with a trumpet blast but with a line from a manager in a press room. Liverpool’s latest briefing before West Ham fell into that category. Arne Slot, speaking ahead of the fixture, delivered news that felt like half a victory and half a worry.

From the original source, Slot confirmed: “Jeremie [Frimpong] trained with us a few times this week. So he’s available.” It was a short sentence but one that matters. Availability is currency in a title chase, especially in a season where margins feel as thin as the winter light over Anfield.

Frimpong’s return gives Liverpool a jolt of pace and intent. His willingness to run at defenders stretches matches in a way few full-backs manage. Slot has built his approach on controlled aggression, pressing high and breaking with purpose, and Frimpong’s profile fits neatly into that blueprint. He is not merely an option; he is a tactical lever.

Liverpool know they must gather points with discipline. Slot himself admitted as much, saying the race for Champions League places is fierce because competitors are “very good”. It is the language of a manager who understands arithmetic. Win enough, stay alive. Drop points, drift.

Wirtz Injury Leaves Tactical Gap

The brighter news on Frimpong was countered by uncertainty around Wirtz. Slot’s tone shifted. “But I don’t expect Florian [Wirtz] to be available. It’s a disappointment. Every time a player is not available is a disappointment, it’s something that I didn’t expect after last week.”

Wirtz is not easily replaced. His game is played between the lines, in those slivers of grass where defences hesitate. Liverpool’s midfield balance relies on that imagination, on passes that feel inevitable only after they are played.

Slot admitted the injury timeline remains unclear. “At this moment time, I don’t know. Usually when I say that, I do know and I don’t want to share that. But this time, I honestly don’t know.” Managers are rarely so candid, which perhaps tells its own story. The uncertainty hangs over selection like a stubborn fog.

Slot’s Selection Puzzle Before West Ham

West Ham will not offer sympathy. They rarely do. Liverpool approach this fixture aware that control of possession must translate into control of outcome. Slot’s rotation choices now carry extra weight. Frimpong’s availability adds thrust, yet without Wirtz’s invention Liverpool must find creativity elsewhere.

This is where squad depth becomes more than a talking point. Slot has spoken repeatedly about needing results because the table is tight and rivals are relentless. Liverpool are chasing more than three points; they are chasing rhythm.

Frimpong could help Liverpool press higher and wider, stretching West Ham’s defensive block. Without Wirtz, however, Liverpool may rely on simpler patterns, quicker transitions, fewer touches in crowded spaces. Sometimes football demands pragmatism over poetry.

Race for Champions League Places Intensifies

Liverpool’s season has reached that point where narratives crystallise. Every match becomes a referendum on ambition. Slot knows it. The supporters know it. The players feel it.

The manager’s measured tone hints at urgency beneath the calm. Liverpool are aware of the standings. They understand the stakes. With Frimpong returning and Wirtz sidelined, Slot’s side must adapt quickly.

This is modern football’s rhythm: availability, adjustment, response. Liverpool’s path to the Champions League may hinge on nights like this, on finding a way when the plan is incomplete.

For now, Slot clings to the positives and prepares for the unknown. Frimpong brings hope. Wirtz brings concern. And the table demands points regardless of either.