Wirtz absence reshuffles Liverpool’s immediate plans and hands rivals a short-term opening

Who feels the impact first is Liverpool’s matchday setup and forward momentum: midfielder Florian wirtz was forced out of the starting XI at the City Ground with a back issue in the warm-up, and his late withdrawal changed selection and in-game roles immediately. Slot describes the problem as not very serious but unable to start; how Liverpool manages the coming week will decide whether the interruption is brief or more disruptive.

How Wirtz’s late withdrawal affected the team on game day

Wirtz, wearing No. 7 and initially named in the starting lineup for Sunday’s Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, reported a back issue during the warm-up and was replaced by Curtis Jones prior to kick-off. Jones came in inside Arne Slot’s 4-2-3-1 shape but gave up possession within seconds of kickoff after dallying on the ball. The substitution was not just to cover an attacking role; it interacted with a pre-existing selection problem at right back.

Matchday selection, roles and the full squad details

Slot already faced a right-back dilemma because Jeremie Frimpong remained unavailable for at least another week, removing the most natural cover for Wirtz’s space. Dominik Szoboszlai was called upon in an unfavoured right-back role on Sunday; the Hungary international was included in the starting XI that featured Alisson; Dominik Szoboszlai, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez; Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister; Mohamed Salah, Curtis Jones, Cody Gakpo; Hugo Ekitiké. The named substitutes were Freddie Woodman (GK), Giorgi Mamardashvili (GK), Andy Robertson, Calvin Ramsay, Joe Gomez, Trey Nyoni, Federico Chiesa, Kieran Morrison and Rio Ngumoha.

Season context: Wirtz’s form, fitness pattern and recent influence

Wirtz’s absence lands against a backdrop of improving returns and availability. After an initial run without a Premier League goal or assist across his first 15 appearances following a £116million summer move from Bayer Leverkusen, he has directly contributed to six goals in his last 10 top-flight outings. He missed both matches referenced earlier in the season through injury — the only games this season in which he has not been involved, except when rested in the League Cup. Since the Forest defeat earlier, he has started every Premier League game and lasted the duration in five of the last six, and in a recent productive stretch he recorded six goals and five assists compared with no goals and three assists in the 16 games beforehand. Partnerships on the pitch include seven combined goals with Hugo Ekitike and an improving link with Mohamed Salah.

Manager view, short-term signals and tactical ripple effects

Arne Slot said he does not think the injury is very serious but that Wirtz felt his back too much in the warm-up to start and was not close to 100 percent. Slot emphasised experience in the league — after six, seven or eight months in it, players understand they must be fully fit to perform — and explained the team decided not to play him. Slot added that they hope and expect Wirtz will be available next week but acknowledged uncertainty in how things can turn out. The situation is also linked to Nottingham Forest’s managerial change: Vitor Pereira has replaced Sean Dyche at Forest, and Pereira’s first game came on Thursday in the Europa League play-off round first leg at Fenerbahce; Slot noted there is only that Thursday to see if the new manager changes personnel or tactics.

• Here’s the part that matters: Wirtz’s late warm-up back problem forced an immediate tactical reshuffle on a day when Liverpool already lacked a preferred right-back option.
• Immediate signals to monitor this week: the club’s fitness update on Wirtz, whether Frimpong remains out for at least another week, and whether Szoboszlai continues in a makeshift right-back role.
• Players affected beyond Wirtz: Curtis Jones was the direct replacement and was involved in an early turnover; teammates relying on Wirtz’s recent form include Hugo Ekitike and Mohamed Salah.
• Longer-season context: Wirtz’s recent six goals and five assists spike contrasts with a slow start after a £116million move and highlights why his availability matters to selection and results.

What’s easy to miss is how layered the selection problem is: a mid-warm-up withdrawal, an already-absent right-back and a manager juggling roles created more than a simple like-for-like swap.

Next signals and practical outlook for the coming week

The immediate confirmation Slot offered is cautious optimism — he hopes Wirtz will be with the squad next week but admitted unpredictability. The real question now is how quickly Wirtz’s back responds to treatment and whether the team will restore Szoboszlai to a more natural role once Frimpong is available. If Wirtz returns to training fully fit, the interruption will likely be brief; if not, Liverpool faces further selection adjustments in both midfield shape and right-side balance.