Florian Wirtz absence has exposed new problem Liverpool must now overcome

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Echo or go back to LFC Live.

Florian Wirtz remains absent for Liverpool ahead of their Premier League visit to Wolves on Tuesday eveningRarely has there been a more contrary season for Liverpool. Indeed, Liverpool have probably played better overall in games this campaign and lost, let alone had to settle for a narrow victory.READ MORE: Liverpool winger sends Arne Slot reminder as 18-year-old cannot stop scoringREAD MORE: Cody Gakpo escapes punishment as Arne Slot sends Joe Gomez strong Liverpool messageYet they managed to match their biggest margin of triumph in the Premier League this season while also scoring five times in a top-flight game for the first time since the title was secured last year with a 5-1 romp against Tottenham Hotspur.And it was achieved without the two big-money summer transfers on whom Liverpool splashed out almost £250million to build their new-look team around: Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz.Indeed, of the starting XI, eight began the win over Tottenham last April while there were only two new signings in Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike, the latter of whom opened the scoring with his 16th goal of the season.Isak, of course, has been absent for much of the campaign due initially to a lack of match sharpness, then a groin problem and finally the leg fracture suffered at Tottenham before Christmas.

He is unlikely to be available until after his month's international break.Wirtz, though, had been a virtual ever-present and emerged from the expected adaptation period to become a hugely influential figure in a Liverpool team that, since mid-January, has rediscovered its scoring touch. They now have 31 goals in their last 11 games having scored the same amount in their previous 23 matches.Wirtz's late withdrawal before kick-off at Nottingham Forest last week understandably contributed to the Reds' wayward first-half showing, although the visitors still struggled to fashion many chances after the break until the introduction of Rio Ngumoha during the closing stages.And against West Ham on Saturday, while the set-piece prowess Slot has long called for was finally prevalent, Liverpool didn't offer a regular threat from open play with Wirtz missing.The attacking midfielder will remain absent for Tuesday's Premier League trip to an improving Wolves who, while bottom of the table and almost certainly doomed to relegation, have lost only one of their last five matches and have held Arsenal and beaten Aston Villa in their last two home games.Wirtz scored what turned out to be the winner when Wolves visited Anfield over Christmas with what was his first goal since his £116million move from Bayer Leverkusen.

That said, Liverpool have won eight of their last nine Premier League visits to Molineux.Wirtz, though, will be a big miss. And the suggestion from Slot is the player is also struggling to make the FA Cup fifth round trip back to Wolves on Friday, which would then call into question his participation in the Champions League round of 16 first leg at Galatasaray the following Tuesday.Having spent the first half of the season convincing naysayers he could cut it in England, now Wirtz is the player Liverpool would rather not have to do without.But if there's one problem to which the Reds have grown accustomed this season, it's coping without important players.