Arne Slot confirms unexpected Liverpool injury blow ahead of West Ham showdown | Football | Sport
Arne Slot has confirmed that Florian Wirtz won’t be available this weekend (Image: LIVERPOOL FC)
Florian Wirtz has been ruled out of Liverpool‘s upcoming fixture against West Ham United in an unexpected development. Arne Slot admitted on Friday that he has no indication of when the attacking midfielder will be fit to return. However, the Reds will receive a welcome boost with Jeremie Frimpong set to come back for the Hammers’ visit on Saturday afternoon, following nearly a month on the treatment table.
Wirtz was named in the starting eleven for last week’s victory at Nottingham Forest but was forced to pull out shortly before kick-off after reporting a back complaint. Speaking immediately after the match, Slot was optimistic the 22-year-old would not endure a lengthy absence. However, the Liverpool manager struck a far more sombre note when addressing the media on Friday morning.
“We don’t expect Florian to be available,” said Slot. “That’s a disappointment, something I didn’t expect after last week. Sometimes that’s how things can evolve.”
When pressed on the likely duration of his absence, the Reds head coach responded: “No. Usually I do but don’t want to share it but I honestly don’t know.
“It’s a big accomplishment for him to stay fit for such a long time because he had to stay fit to make the step up but unfortunately he is not available, which is a disappointment for him and for us, because he played really well.”
Frimpong has been sidelined since picking up a groin injury in the early stages of the Champions League victory over Qarabag on 28 January.
Regarding the Dutch international, Slot commented: “Jeremie trained with us a few times this week, he is available.”
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It’s currently unclear when Wirtz will be able to return to the pitch (Image: Getty)
Slot was also quizzed on Mohamed Salah‘s recent form and jumped to the defence of the Egypt international.
“He set his own standards and they are so, so, so high the moment he doesn’t score for a few games, people are surprised, so that is the big compliment,” said the Dutchman.
“If you use the FA Cup, even though it is a Premier League side [he scored against], three games ago he had an assist and a goal against a Premier League side, Brighton, a very good Premier League team, so that is the reality.
“You can change data and say it’s no goal in nine Premier League games and that is the standard he set. I think I should go really detailed into performances and this is not the time and place to do it here.
“With Mo, we are used to scoring goals. We also know, even in my time, it has happened, I’ve had questions about Mo not scoring for three or four games but he always scores again.
“He is not our only attacker who doesn’t score as much as he was used to. It is not that the focus should be all on him, Hugo and Cody haven’t either, so it is a team thing.”
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