Florian Wirtz Injury Update Issued After Liverpool Star Pulled Out of Nottingham Forest Game

Liverpool FC suffered a major blow just before their Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, as star summer signing Florian Wirtz was forced to withdraw from the starting lineup due to an injury sustained during the warm-up.

Wirtz, the German international who joined Liverpool in a high-profile transfer, had been named in Arne Slot's starting XI in a 4-2-3-1 formation. He was poised to continue his impressive resurgence, having contributed to six goals in his last 10 top-flight appearances after a slow start with no goals or assists in his first 15 Premier League games. This injury struck at the worst possible time, halting his momentum just as he was proving his worth at the sharp end of the pitch[1][2].

The City Ground matchday drama unfolded rapidly: Wirtz arrived with the team, appeared ready to play, but was seen speaking with coaching staff before being replaced. Liverpool's matchday blog confirmed the late change, with Curtis Jones stepping in directly for Wirtz. The adjusted lineup featured Alisson in goal; defenders Dominik Szoboszlai, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez; midfielders Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister; attackers Mohamed Salah, Curtis Jones, Cody Gakpo; and striker Hugo Ekitiké[1][2][3].

Early signs were ominous for Liverpool, as Jones lost possession seconds into kickoff after hesitating on the ball, highlighting the challenge of replacing Wirtz's creativity with a more defensive-minded player[1]. No immediate update on the injury's severity was available due to the last-minute nature, but Liverpool benefits from a rare fixture-free week ahead. They face West Ham United at Anfield on February 28, followed by two games against Wolverhampton Wanderers and a Champions League last-16 first leg, giving time for Wirtz's recovery[1].

This setback tests Slot's squad depth amid a demanding schedule, but the German's return could be crucial for Liverpool's title push.

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