Arne Slot provides Florian Wirtz injury update ahead of Liverpool’s back-to-back meetings with Wolves | OneFootball

Arne Slot has cast doubt over a swift return from injury for Florian Wirtz as Liverpool stare down the barrel of back-to-back meetings with Wolves.

Key midfielder Wirtz was withdrawn from Liverpool’s starting line-up ahead of last week's match at Nottingham Forest after experiencing discomfort with his back during the warm-up, and was absent from the matchday squad for their 5-2 win over West Ham on Saturday.

Slot looked to allay fears over the seriousness of the problem following the Forest clash but has been unable to provide a concrete timeline on when he will be available for selection again.

The Dutchman has now suggested that Tuesday’s trip to the Premier League’s bottom side will come too soon for the German international, who will also face a race against time to make fitness for a repeat of the fixture in the FA Cup on Friday night.

Asked if there was any update on Wirtz’ recovery, Slot said: “Not anything different to what I said after the game. The game tomorrow probably will come too soon and maybe the game at the weekend.

“Let’s see how that ends up but we hope to have him back somewhere next week.”

Wirtz, who joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth up to £116m last summer, has found form after a tricky start to life on Merseyside.

Having gone the first four months of the season without a goal contribution, the German has added goals and assists to his already-influential game and is now established as one of Liverpool’s most integral attacking players.

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Florian Wirtz has become an integral member of Liverpool’s side (AP)

Liverpool will hope to welcome Wirtz back for their Champions League last-16 first leg at Galatasaray next Tuesday, with the Reds striving for a better outcome than their last visit to Rams Park in this season’s league phase, which saw them succumb to a 1-0 loss.

In better injury news, Slot celebrated the return of Jeremie Frimpong from a hamstring issue against West Ham, easing pressure on Liverpool’s problem position of right-back.

Frimpong came on as a substitute and forced Liverpool’s fifth of the game, driving into the box before firing in a low ball that was deflected in off Hammers defender Axel Disasi for an own goal.

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Jeremie Frimpong forced Liverpool's fifth goal against West Ham (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

“I don’t think the only position we’ve struggled is the right-back position, I think it’s been more positions, but right full-back is probably the one that stands out most,” said Slot, who has regularly had to turn to midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai to fill in at right-back due to injuries to the likes of Frimpong, Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez.

“Having Jeremie back is really nice. Because of the fact we play three games in seven days, because if we play Galatasaray, we have the early kick-off afterwards in Brighton, those things you all have to take into account games especially players who come back from injuries.

“But we also know the importance of every game now and that is a challenge. But I'm not the only one who has that.

“I prefer to have this problem, to manage how many minutes he can be given rather than see him with the medical staff doing his recovery.”