Liverpool dealt new injury blow as Florian Wirtz pulls up in warm-up before Nottingham Forest clash

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·22 February 2026

Liverpool dealt new injury blow as Florian Wirtz pulls up in warm-up before Nottingham Forest clash

Reds forced into late change at City Ground in fresh setback for Arne Slot

Liverpool have been dealt a fresh injury blow after Florian Wirtz pulled up in the warm-up before their Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest.

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Wirtz was named in the Liverpool team at the City Ground but reported an issue during the warm-up and was replaced in the XI by Curtis Jones.

Liverpool are yet to give any details of the injury suffered by Wirtz.

Wirtz was seen shaking his head in discussion with Liverpool coaching staff during the warm-up before walking away down the tunnel.

Wirtz had to be replaced in the Liverpool team by Curtis Jones

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The club posted on X: “A late change to our starting line-up, Curtis Jones replaces Florian Wirtz.”

Wirtz later reappeared to watch the game from behind the Liverpool dugout in the stands at the City Ground.

With Wirtz ruled out, Freddie Woodman was drafted onto the bench.

After a difficult start to his Liverpool career following his £116million move to Anfield from Bayer Leverkusen last summer, Wirtz has found form a become a key player for Slot in recent months.

As the news broke from the City Ground, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher said: “It’s big blow. In the last few months he has been the one knitting everything together. Liverpool are certainly going to miss him.”

Jones started in midfield against Forest, with Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back as planned.