Florian Wirtz's Back Injury: Arne Slot Doesn't Know Return Date for Liverpool Star

Florian Wirtz's health problems currently pose the biggest logistical challenge for Liverpool's coaching staff. The German playmaker, who became the club's record signing in the summer of 2025, is suffering from a persistent back injury. While it initially seemed the break from play would only be short-term, the latest medical reports and statements from coach Arne Slot paint a much less optimistic picture. The manager of 'The Reds' openly admitted that, unlike typical situations where he has knowledge of players' rehabilitation progress, there is complete uncertainty in Wirtz's case. The lack of a specific return schedule suggests the injury may have a chronic basis or require more radical treatment methods than a conservative training regimen. „Zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt nicht. Und normalerweise sage ich, dass ich das zwar weiß, es aber nicht teilen möchte. Jetzt weiß ich es ehrlich gesagt nicht.” (Not at the moment. And normally I say that I know it, but I don't want to share it. Right now, I honestly don't know.) — Arne Slot Modern sports medicine indicates that spinal injuries in footballers often result from dynamic overloads, and their treatment is difficult to time-parameterize due to the risk of recurrence during sudden torso twists. Wirtz's absence coincides with an extremely intense period in the competition calendar, further complicating the situation for the league leaders. Liverpool is grappling with what is almost an injury plague affecting the team's key formations. In addition to being out for the upcoming match against West Ham United are players such as Alexander Isak, Giovanni Leoni, and Wataru Endo. The most drastic case, however, is Conor Bradley's knee injury, which has definitively ended his appearances in the current campaign. Arne Slot is forced to rotate the squad in a way that was not previously planned, often reaching deep into the reserves and academy players to assemble a matchday squad. The only glimmer of hope for fans from Merseyside is Jeremie Frimpong's return to full fitness, which will help plug the gap on the right flank. 5 — key Liverpool players are currently dealing with injuries Sports analysts point out that the growing number of injuries in the Liverpool squad may be a direct result of the transition to the intensive playing system imposed by the new coach and the accumulation of matches under the reformed Champions League. Florian Wirtz, as a player reliant on speed and unconventional dribbling, is particularly vulnerable to the effects of musculoskeletal overload. This situation is being monitored not only in England but also in Germany, where the national team manager was counting on the midfielder's presence in the upcoming international matches. Currently, the club's priority is to avoid the player's premature return to the pitch, which could worsen the back injury and rule him out for a much longer period, potentially threatening his participation in the final phase of the season. [{"aspekt": "Wirtz's Availability", "przed": "Fit to play", "po": "Indefinite break"}, {"aspekt": "Right Defense", "przed": "No backup", "po": "Frimpong's Return"}, {"aspekt": "Youth in the Squad", "przed": "Sporadically", "po": "A permanent bench element"}]