Florian Wirtz has been ruled out of Liverpool’s Premier League match against West Ham United on Saturday, February 28th, according to Liverpool manager Arne Slot. The German midfielder was named in the starting XI against Nottingham Forest last weekend but was forced to withdraw during the warm-up after experiencing discomfort in his back.
“I don’t expect Florian to be available, that is a disappointment of course,” Slot told reporters during a pre-match press conference on Friday. “Every time a player is not available It’s a disappointment and also something I did not expect after last week but that is sometimes how things evolve and unfortunately this time it is not in a positive way.”
The injury to Wirtz represents a significant setback for Liverpool, though the team has demonstrated resilience in recent weeks. Liverpool secured a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest in their previous outing, leveling their points total with fifth-place Chelsea.
Jeremie Frimpong is available again after a month on the sidelines with a thigh injury, but Slot has not confirmed whether he will be included in the squad. The Liverpool manager is expected to provide a further update on Frimpong’s fitness during his pre-match briefing.
Other players currently sidelined include Alexander Isak, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, and Wataru Endo. Isak is not expected to return for several weeks, even as Bradley, Leoni, and Endo are all out for the remainder of the season.
Despite Wirtz’s absence, Slot may opt to retain the team that started against Forest. This could see Curtis Jones continue in midfield and Mohamed Salah feature in attack, despite the Egyptian forward currently experiencing a nine-game goal drought in the Premier League.
Liverpool currently sit three points behind fourth-placed Manchester United in the race for a Champions League spot, making Saturday’s fixture against West Ham crucial.