Arne Slot rules Florian Wirtz out of West Ham game; no timeframe for return | OneFootball

Liverpool will be without Florian Wirtz for their Premier League meeting with West Ham United, with head coach Arne Slot admitting he does not know when the midfielder will return.

Wirtz suffered a back problem during the warm-up ahead of last weekend’s victory over Nottingham Forest.

The Germany international was withdrawn from the starting line-up as a precaution, with hopes initially high that the issue was minor.

However, Slot confirmed on Friday that the 22-year-old will not be available this weekend.

“I don’t expect Florian to be available,” Slot said. “That’s a disappointment, of course, because every time a player is not available it’s a disappointment, and also something I didn’t expect after last week.”

The Liverpool manager had previously indicated that the injury was not serious, but the situation has since evolved.

When asked about a possible timeframe for Wirtz’s recovery, Slot conceded there is currently no clarity.

“At this moment in time, no,” he said. “Usually when I say that I do know but don’t want to share it, but now I honestly don’t know.”

Wirtz, a high-profile summer arrival from Bayer Leverkusen, has become an important figure in Liverpool’s midfield structure.

He has adapted quickly to the demands of the Premier League and has featured regularly in Slot’s plans this season.

Slot praised the player’s resilience and professionalism during his time at Anfield.

“It is already a big accomplishment that he stayed fit for such a long time after making the step to the Premier League,” he added. “That tells you a lot about his mentality and work rate, and also about the performance staff.”

Liverpool did receive a more positive update elsewhere, with Jeremie Frimpong returning to full training this week.

The Netherlands international is available for selection after recovering from a muscle injury.

His return offers Slot additional options at right-back, particularly with Conor Bradley sidelined.

Wirtz’s absence, though, represents a significant setback as Liverpool continue their domestic campaign.

With no definitive return date, the club will now have to manage the coming fixtures without one of their most influential midfielders.