Florian Wirtz was forced to withdraw from Liverpool’s starting line-up ahead of their dramatic 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest
17:20, 22 Feb 2026Updated 17:21, 22 Feb 2026
Florian Wirtz during the warm-up prior to the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool at City Ground on February 22, 2026(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Arne Slot has allayed fears Florian Wirtz has suffered serious injury after the Liverpool attacking midfielder was involved in a major fitness scare. Wirtz was named in the starting line-up for the Premier League match at Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon but was forced to withdraw shortly before kick-off due to a back problem.
The Germany international’s place as the number 10 was taken by Curtis Jones, who later switched to right-back with Alexis Mac Allister instead occupying the role.
But Slot believes Wirtz, who was unable to be named among the substitutes, has a strong chance of being available for next Saturday’s visit of West Ham United.
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Ian Doyle
OPINION
Ian Doyle
“We don’t think it is very serious,” said the Liverpool boss. “He felt his back too much during the warm-up to start. He wasn’t able to be 100% or close to 100%.
“I think after being in this league for six, seven or eight months that no matter how good you are on the ball, you need to be 100% at this level.
“So we decided not to play him but hope and expect him to be with us next week.”
Jeremie Frimpong is also expected to be back for the West Ham game, although long-term injury victims Alexander Isak, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni remain out.
Mac Allister scored the only goal of the game at Forest in the seventh minute of additional time to earn Liverpool a 1-0 win to move level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea.
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