Arne Slot has eased concerns over Florian Wirtz after the Liverpool midfielder was forced to withdraw shortly before kick-off against Nottingham Forest with a back problem.
Wirtz was named in the starting XI but was replaced by Curtis Jones, who later moved to right-back with Alexis Mac Allister operating as the No.10.
Slot is optimistic the Germany international could return for next Saturday’s clash with West Ham United, while Jeremie Frimpong is also expected back.
However, Alexander Isak, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni remain sidelined with long-term injuries.
Mac Allister scored deep into stoppage time to secure a 1-0 win at Forest, lifting Liverpool level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea.
Slot told his post-match press conference following the dramatic 1-0 win: “We don’t think it is very serious, but he felt his back too much during the warm-up to start.
“He wasn’t able to be 100 per cent or even close to 100 per cent. I think after being in this league for six, seven or eight months, he now understands no matter how good you are on the ball, you need to be 100 per cent at this level.
“So, we decided not to play him. We hope and expect he will be able to be with us again next week but you never know how things work out.”
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