Liverpool boss Arne Slot admits he does not know how long Florian Wirtz will be sidelined with the back injury that saw him miss last weekend’s win at Nottingham Forest.

The Germany international was named in the starting XI at the City Ground but pulled out after feeling discomfort.

He will definitely not play when Liverpool host West Ham tomorrow and Slot is not sure when Wirtz will be available again.

“At this moment time, I don’t know,” said the Dutchman. “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 is a major blow for a Liverpool side pushing to clinch a top-four finish and looking to go beyond the round of 16 in the Champions League. Wirtz started slowly following his £116million move from Bayer Leverkusen last summer but has started to flourish.

“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,” Slot added. “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.”

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