Wirtz withdrawn with back issue as Liverpool secure dramatic 1-0 win at Forest
Florian wirtz was removed from Liverpool’s starting lineup shortly before kick-off at the City Ground after feeling a back problem in the warm-up, a late change that saw Curtis Jones come in as Liverpool held on for a dramatic 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.
Wirtz ruled out at City Ground after warm-up back issue
The No. 7 had been named in Arne Slot’s starting XI for Sunday’s Premier League fixture but reported a back issue during the pre-match warm-up and was replaced prior to kick-off. Slot described the injury as not thought to be very serious, saying Wirtz felt his back too much during the warm-up to start and was not “100 per cent or even close to 100 per cent. ” Slot added the club hope and expect Wirtz will be available next week but acknowledged uncertainty about how things can evolve.
Arne Slot on fitness, selection and Liverpool’s recent run
Slot framed the decision as one of fitness and level: after several months in the league, players must be at full capacity to perform. The coach’s selection dilemma extended beyond Wirtz. Slot had confirmed before the game that Jeremie Frimpong would remain unavailable for at least another week, complicating Liverpool’s most natural options for adjusting personnel and influencing tactical choices for the trip to the City Ground.
Curtis Jones replacement and immediate match impact
Curtis Jones was chosen to replace Wirtz in Slot’s 4-2-3-1 system. Within seconds of kick-off Jones gave up possession after dallying on the ball. The matchday starting XI listed for Liverpool read: Alisson; Dominik Szoboszlai, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez; Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister; Mohamed Salah, Curtis Jones, Cody Gakpo; Hugo Ekitiké. Substitutes included Freddie Woodman (GK), Giorgi Mamardashvili (GK), Andy Robertson, Calvin Ramsay, Joe Gomez, Trey Nyoni, Federico Chiesa, Kieran Morrison and Rio Ngumoha.
Statistical turnaround since Wirtz’s return
Wirtz’s absence and subsequent returns have been a clear thread through Liverpool’s season. After joining from Bayer Leverkusen for £116million in the summer, the 22-year-old initially struggled for Premier League goal contributions: the context contains references to him failing to score or provide a Premier League assist across his first 15 appearances, and also to having no goals and three assists in the 16 games beforehand. Since that low point, the forward has enjoyed a marked improvement.
Across the recent positive run in which Wirtz has been central, Liverpool have lost just two of 19 games in all competitions, advanced to the last 16 of the Champions League and progressed in the FA Cup, reviving hopes of a top-four finish. In those matches Wirtz has produced six goals and five assists, and he has directly contributed to six goals in his last 10 top-flight outings. His durability has improved too: he has started every Premier League game since the Forest defeat earlier in the season and completed the full 90 minutes in five of the last six fixtures.
Nottingham Forest, Vitor Pereira and the fixture context
Forest’s return to Anfield in November began a difficult week for Slot that included a 3-0 reverse to the Tricky Trees and a 4-1 home defeat to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League, a sequence that prompted calls for Slot’s dismissal after nine defeats in 12 games. Wirtz missed both the Forest and PSV matches through injury; those were, aside from being rested in the League Cup, the only games this season in which he was not involved.
Forest have since made a managerial change: Vitor Pereira replaced the sacked Sean Dyche and was preparing for his first game on Thursday in the Europa League play-off round first leg at Fenerbahce. Slot noted there was only a short window to assess whether Pereira would alter personnel or tactics for the City Ground match.
What makes this notable is how tightly linked Liverpool’s form has been to Wirtz’s availability and output: his improved all-round play and developing partnerships—most visibly with Hugo Ekitike, with whom he has combined for seven goals, and an improving understanding with Mohamed Salah—have coincided with Liverpool’s run of positive results. With a favourable injury update from Slot and a busy schedule ahead, Liverpool will be monitoring Wirtz’s recovery closely as they look to sustain momentum.
