Liverpool's Wirtz out injured with no return date, Slot says
· CNA · JoinRead a summary of this article on FAST.
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST
FAST
Feb 27 : Liverpool playmaker Florian Wirtz will miss their match against West Ham United on Saturday and manager Arne Slot said he had no idea when the Germany international would be fit to return.
Wirtz suffered a back injury while warming up ahead of last weekend's clash at Nottingham Forest and Slot told a press conference on Friday that the 22-year-old's absence was a blow to his side as they look to continue their positive recent form.
Wirtz joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in June, as the English club shattered their transfer record by shelling out 100 million pounds ($134.64 million) for the German, with a further 16 million pounds in potential add-ons.
After a slow start, Wirtz had found form before his injury, scoring six goals and providing seven assists for Liverpool this season, becoming Slot's preferred choice in the 'number-10 role' behind the striker.
Subscribe to CNA's Recommended Read
A single handpicked story that we think you shouldn't miss. Just one a day.
This service is not intended for persons residing in the E.U. By clicking subscribe, I agree to receive news updates and promotional material from Mediacorp and Mediacorp’s partners.
Loading
“No, at this moment of time, no," Slot told reporters when asked if he had a timeframe in mind for Wirtz's return.
"And usually when I say that I do know that but I don’t want to share it. But now I honestly don’t know. It’s definitely a shame... indeed a disappointment for him, but also for us because he played really, really well lately."
In better news for the club, Liverpool may welcome back right back Jeremie Frimpong after a month out due to a hamstring injury, Slot said.
GOALS HAVE BEEN HARDER TO COME BY, SAYS SLOT
Slot said his players needed to focus solely on their own performances rather than look at other teams, as they jostle with Manchester United and Chelsea in the battle for Champions League qualification places.
Liverpool sit sixth in the Premier League after 27 matches, level on 45 points with fifth-placed Chelsea and three adrift of Manchester United in fourth.
With both Chelsea and United not in action until Sunday, Liverpool will hope to put points on the board and the pressure back on their rivals with victory at home over relegation-threatened West Ham.
“The way I see it, this is another game for us and we are not focused on other teams, only ourselves,” Slot said.
“We need to win a lot of games... and that is where our focus is. Not so much about points and gaps although we are aware of the table.”
Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister scored a 97th-minute winner to give Liverpool victory at Forest in their previous outing, their second straight 1‑0 triumph.
Slot acknowledged that goals had been harder to come by for his forwards, but that Liverpool's solid defensive form meant it did not matter as much.
“We keep clean sheets, so they don’t need to score as many,” he said.
Newsletter
Recommended Read
Subscribe to CNA's Recommended Read
A single handpicked story that we think you shouldn't miss. Just one a day.
Sign up for our newsletters
Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox
Get the CNA app
Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories
Get WhatsApp alerts
Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app