Liverpool Without Florian Wirtz: Coach Arne Slot Doesn't Know Return Date for Star

Liverpool's squad problems are deepening at a crucial point in the Premier League season. Florian Wirtz, who joined 'The Reds' from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2025, is struggling with a back injury that initially seemed minor. The injury emerged during the warm-up before a recent match against Nottingham Forest. Although initial forecasts suggested a short break, the player has been unable to resume team training. During the latest press conference, coach Arne Slot openly admitted he has no information regarding a potential date for his player's return to full fitness. The lack of a concrete rehabilitation schedule is causing concern both at the club and within the German national team setup, which faces important international matches. „Zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt nicht. Und normalerweise sage ich, dass ich das zwar weiß, es ale nicht teilen möchte. Jetzt weiß ich es ehrlich gesagt nicht.” (Not at the moment. And normally I would say that I know it but don't want to share it. Honestly, right now I don't know.) — Arne Slot Florian Wirtz made his Bundesliga debut at just 17 years and 15 days old, becoming the youngest debutant in Bayer Leverkusen's history at the time. His spectacular development led to winning the double with Bayer in 2024, paving the way for his record-breaking transfer to Anfield Road for a fee exceeding 100 million euros. Wirtz's absence is just the tip of the iceberg of medical problems at Liverpool. The club's treatment room is filling up with more names, drastically limiting the coaching staff's options. Alexander Isak, Giovanni Leoni, and Wataru Endo are also out of the squad. The most painful loss, however, is Conor Bradley, whose knee injury has ruled him out for the rest of the current campaign. As a result of these absences, Arne Slot is forced to field an experimental lineup, with the substitutes' bench often occupied almost exclusively by youth players and two goalkeepers. The only positive news is the return of Jeremie Frimpong, who, after recovering from a muscle injury, is set to bolster the right side of defense, relieving the midfielders who have been covering that position. Number of Injured Key Liverpool Players: Florian Wirtz: 1, Alexander Isak: 1, Conor Bradley: 1, Wataru Endo: 1, Giovanni Leoni: 1 The growing number of injuries in the Merseyside team is sparking discussion about match loads in the English Premier League. Media and analysts are increasingly pointing to a link between the intense style of play preferred by Slot and recurring muscular and overuse injuries among key players. For Liverpool, fighting for the highest honors, Wirtz's prolonged absence could prove a decisive factor in the race for the domestic title, especially as the German playmaker was the architect of most of the team's offensive moves in the first part of the season.