Liverpool fans held their breath at the City Ground on February 22, 2026, as news broke that star midfielder Florian Wirtz would miss the Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest due to an injury sustained during the warm-up. The late setback forced manager Arne Slot into a last-minute reshuffle, with Curtis Jones stepping into the starting lineup. The development cast a shadow over what was already a high-stakes fixture for both clubs—Liverpool chasing Champions League qualification, and Forest fighting for survival under new boss Vitor Pereira.
Wirtz, just 22 years old, has been a headline act for the Reds since his high-profile £116 million move from Bayer Leverkusen last summer. After a slow start in English football, the German international had found his rhythm, particularly since December, tallying six goals and eight assists in 35 appearances across all competitions. His Premier League form had been especially encouraging, with four goals and two assists in the last 13 league matches, and he was widely praised for his performance in Liverpool’s gritty 1-0 victory at Sunderland just a week prior.
The timing of Wirtz’s injury couldn’t have been worse. Liverpool entered the Forest match buoyed by Chelsea’s dropped points and Manchester United’s fixture delay, knowing a win would significantly enhance their Champions League hopes. But with a growing injury list that already included Alexander Isak, Jeremie Frimpong, Wataru Endo, Conor Bradley, and Giovanni Leoni, the loss of Wirtz added to Slot’s selection headaches.
“He tried in warm-up but wasn’t able to play. When you’re 90 minutes sitting on the bench, it’s no use asking how he feels now. Luckily there’s a week to go before we play again,” Slot said after the match. The Dutch manager later clarified that Wirtz had reported a back complaint, not a muscle injury as initially speculated. “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 percent or even close to 100 percent. 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 percent at this level.” Slot added, “We hope and expect he will be able to be with us again next week but you never know how things work out.”
The late change was more than just a tactical adjustment. Wirtz has become the creative heartbeat of Liverpool’s midfield, especially as the season has progressed. Former Reds defender Jamie Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports, emphasized Wirtz’s growing influence but also pointed out areas for improvement. “In the second half of the season, Wirtz has been fantastic,” Carragher remarked. “But he still doesn’t have the numbers to back it up. But you still love to watch him play football. There’s no doubt we’re seeing his real quality now. He’s influencing the game. At Sunderland, no one had won there before. He didn’t get the goal or the assist, but if you watch that game, he was the best player on the pitch. Wirtz and Ekitike are doing well at the moment. But you feel they would need to go up another level to get Liverpool back in the title race next season.”
That sense of expectation is a testament to Wirtz’s impact since shaking off his initial struggles at Anfield. The German’s adaptation to the physicality and pace of the Premier League has been closely watched, not least because of the hefty fee Liverpool paid to secure his services. While he’s already racked up over 230 senior appearances in his young career—including 37 caps for Germany—Wirtz’s evolution at Liverpool has been a focal point for pundits and supporters alike.
For Nottingham Forest, the absence of Wirtz offered a glimmer of hope as they looked to build on a recent 3-0 Europa League play-off win over Fenerbahce and repeat their November triumph over Liverpool. Vitor Pereira, fresh from his European success, was seeking to engineer another upset to aid Forest’s relegation battle. Slot acknowledged the challenge in his pre-match press conference, recalling the reverse fixture: “Back then they were in a different management as well, because I think it was Sean Dyche’s third or fourth game. That sometimes makes it a little bit more difficult because we only have tonight to see if this manager changes personnel, changes tactics. But usually you would also adapt to the players you have. Although managers have a preferred playing style, you take into account which players you have as well. So, let’s see.”
The match itself was a tense affair, with Liverpool lacking some of their usual attacking fluency in Wirtz’s absence. The first half ended goalless, and it took a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Alexis Mac Allister to secure a vital 1-0 victory for the Reds. The result kept Liverpool’s Champions League ambitions alive and provided a measure of relief for Slot, who will be hoping his squad’s injury woes ease before their next run of fixtures.
Wirtz’s injury, while not deemed serious, serves as a stark reminder of the fine margins in top-flight football. For a Liverpool side already stretched by fitness concerns, the German’s continued availability could be crucial as they navigate an intense calendar that includes Premier League matches against West Ham, Wolves, and Tottenham, as well as a Champions League Round of 16 tie looming in March.
Looking ahead, all eyes will be on the medical updates from Anfield in the coming days. Slot’s optimism is encouraging, but Liverpool’s fortunes may well hinge on Wirtz’s swift return to action. With the Reds’ season delicately poised, the hope among fans is that their midfield maestro will be back orchestrating attacks when Liverpool next take the field.