Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz, Conor Bradley out with muscular injuries from international duty
Liverpool have suffered a double blow with Florian Wirtz and Conor Bradley both ruled out of Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest at Anfield.
However, goalkeeper Alisson is expected to return to Arne Slot’s side after missing the last eight games in all competitions due to a hamstring strain.
Head coach Slot explained Wirtz and Bradley both picked up muscle injuries on international duty.
Bradley’s problem is the more serious of the two with the Northern Ireland right-back expected to be out for at least three weeks. Summer signing Jeremie Frimpong (hamstring) also remains sidelined.
“Conor is not able to play, Florian is not able to play — it’s far from ideal,” Slot said.
“Both are muscle issues. I don’t expect Conor to be part of the upcoming seven games in 22 days unless a miracle happens.
(Carl Recine/Getty Images)
“Florian should be able to maybe play… that shouldn’t have to be as long.
“But Jeremie is not going to be able to play for the next two or three weeks so it will be interesting to see who all of you want to see as the right full-back.”
Slot played midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back earlier in the season but that had the knock-on effect of weakening Liverpool in central areas.
Joe Gomez is another option and the club’s longest serving player is set for a bigger role in the coming weeks having only made two starts in the Carabao Cup this season.
“Dom has done so well in every position,” Slot added. “Curtis Jones played there last season, Joe Gomez can play there as well, but Joe has played I think two times 90 minutes in the whole of 2025 so it is a bit of a risk to play him seven times in 22 days.
“Joe missed the training session yesterday as well but we’re expecting him to train today.
“Robbo (Andy Robertson) didn’t train for private reasons but he will be with us today. It’s challenging but the good thing is we still have lots of good players available. Maybe one or two of them will have to play in positions they don’t usually do.”
Asked about Alisson’s return, Slot said: “He trained last week and this week so he will be able to play tomorrow if things work out well again. If he is ready to play then he will start.”
With Giovanni Leoni out for the season with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and uncertainty over Ibrahima Konate’s future, a lack of depth at centre-back is a concern for Liverpool.
However, Slot dismissed talk of trying to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace in the January window. Liverpool were on the brink of signing the England international at the end of the summer before Palace pulled the plug.
“There are so many games to be played before that and in the position we are in, it is the last thing that’s on my mind,” Slot said.
“It is not a topic for me at the moment. We have three (fit) centre-backs and maybe Ryan (Gravenberch) and Wata (Wataru Endo) can play in the position. We have other positions which are more of an issue.”
