Slot confirms Wirtz blow as Liverpool learn West Ham availability

Arne Slot has confirmed Florian Wirtz will miss the Premier League assembly with West Ham United, whereas additionally admitting the membership presently has no clear timeline for his return.

The Germany worldwide was initially anticipated to solely endure a brief interruption after withdrawing in the course of the warm-up earlier than our 1-0 win away to Nottingham Forest.

As a substitute, the scenario has developed into a real concern for us heading into an necessary run of fixtures.

Slot confirms Wirtz absence and unsure return

Talking in his pre-match press convention, Slot defined: “Don’t count on Florian to be accessible.”

The Dutchman admitted the event got here as a shock after early optimism following the Metropolis Floor incident.

“Each time when a participant isn’t accessible it’s a disappointment and in addition one thing that I didn’t count on after final week.”

Extra worrying, nonetheless, was his response when requested a couple of restoration timeframe: “At this second of time… I truthfully don’t know.”

Slot additionally emphasised how properly the playmaker had been performing previous to the damage: “He performed actually, actually, actually, very well these days.”

That issues as a result of creativity was clearly a problem throughout giant spells in opposition to Nottingham Forest regardless of Alexis Mac Allister’s late winner, with Liverpool managing little or no attacking management within the first half after the late reshuffle and Wirtz watched on in discomfort.

Why Wirtz is such a giant miss for Liverpool

Wirtz has quietly grow to be one among our most influential attacking gamers this season.

Based on Sofascore knowledge, the attacking midfielder has made 25 Premier League appearances, beginning 21, scoring 4 objectives and offering two assists whereas additionally creating 4 large probabilities and averaging 1.8 key passes per recreation.

Stat
25/26 Premier League

Appearances
25

Begins
21

Objectives
4

Assists
2

Key passes per recreation
1.8

Large probabilities created
4

He additionally averages 59.2 touches per match, which illustrates how a lot of our build-up flows by him in superior midfield areas.

After Wirtz was pressured out at Forest, Curtis Jones stepped in and Dominik Szoboszlai briefly crammed uncommon roles in the course of the reshuffle, and our lack of attacking construction early in that match demonstrated simply how central the German has grow to be.

Slot had sounded assured instantly after the Forest recreation when he mentioned the problem “wasn’t very critical”, however per week later the fact is totally different, and now we head into the West Ham match with out our major artistic outlet and with out readability on when he returns.

With Liverpool presently sixth within the desk on 45 factors, degree with Chelsea and simply outdoors the Champions League positions, that uncertainty might considerably form the approaching weeks and pressure tactical modifications in each midfield construction and attacking stability.