Blow for Liverpool: Wirtz still sidelined with back issue, Slot says timeline unknown | OneFootball

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has said he is unsure when Florian Wirtz will return to fitness.

Wirtz was a late withdrawal ahead oflast weekend's win at Nottingham Forest, after complaining about a back problem during the warm-up at the City Ground.

The Germany international's absence is a big blow, with Liverpool lacking creative spark in his absence at Forest.

Wirtz had been in good form before his injury. The summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen was nominated for thePremier League's Player of the Month award in January, as his performances picked up after a modest start at Anfield.

Slot has confirmed that Wirtz remains unavailable for this weekend'sPremier League clash against West Ham at Anfield, though revealed that Jeremie Frimpong is set to return to the squad. Frimpong has been out with a hamstring injury but has trained with the main group throughout the week.

Providing an injury update at his pre-match press conference, Slot said: "Jeremie [Frimpong] trained with us a few times this week. So he's available.

"But I don't expect Florian [Wirtz] to be available. It's a disappointment. Every time a player is not available is a disappointment, it's something that I didn't expect after last week.

"At this moment time, I don't know (when he will return). Usually when I say that, I do know and I don't want to share that. But this time, I honestly don't know.

"It's a big accomplishment for Wirtz to stay fit for such a long time because he had to make a step up from where he played to the Premier League and Liverpool. It tells a lot about his mentality and work rate that he has stayed fit for so long.

"It is a disappointment for him and for us, because he has played really, really well lately"