Liverpool’s hopes for a strong Premier League finish took an unexpected twist on February 22, 2026, when star midfielder Florian Wirtz was forced to withdraw at the last minute from the starting lineup against Nottingham Forest due to an injury sustained during the warm-up. The 22-year-old German, who has been steadily finding his stride since his high-profile summer transfer from Bayer Leverkusen, was seen in conversation with Liverpool’s backroom staff before being replaced by Curtis Jones just moments before kickoff at the City Ground.
The timing couldn’t have been worse for manager Arne Slot, whose side has been battling a growing list of injuries. Wirtz’s absence added to a roster of sidelined players that already included Alexander Isak, Jeremie Frimpong, Wataru Endo, Conor Bradley, and Giovanni Leoni. As Liverpool fought to solidify their Champions League qualification hopes, every available player counted, and losing Wirtz—especially given his recent surge in form—was a significant blow.
Wirtz, who joined Liverpool last summer for an eye-watering £116 million, had taken time to adjust to the rigors of English football. However, since December, he’s been a revelation for the Reds, notching six goals and eight assists in 35 appearances across all competitions. Four of those goals and two assists came in the Premier League, with his breakthrough moment arriving in a 2-1 win over Wolves on December 27. That goal sparked a purple patch, with Wirtz scoring six times in his next ten matches. In his last 14 outings, he tallied six goals and three assists, underscoring just how vital he’d become to Liverpool’s attacking play.
His influence was particularly evident in Liverpool’s recent 1-0 victory at Sunderland, where, despite not getting on the scoresheet, he was widely regarded as the best player on the pitch. Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard even drew comparisons to the legendary Zinedine Zidane, while ex-defender Jamie Carragher lauded Wirtz’s growing impact. “In the second half of the season, Wirtz has been fantastic,” Carragher told Sky Sports. “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.”
Carragher also emphasized the need for continued improvement, especially if Liverpool are to mount a serious title challenge next season. “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.”
On the day of the Forest clash, Wirtz was initially named in the starting XI, but a back complaint during the warm-up ruled him out. Manager Arne Slot explained the decision in his post-match press conference, stating, “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. 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.”
The late change meant Curtis Jones was thrust into the lineup, having originally been set to start on the bench. Carragher, reacting to the reshuffle, noted, “It’s a big blow. He’s been the one knitting everything together. Curtis Jones is more of a central midfield player. So you’d wonder if Jones sits alongside Gravenberch and Mac Allister steps up into the No 10.”
Liverpool’s injury woes have been a recurring theme this season, with the squad stretched thin at critical junctures. Despite these setbacks, the Reds have shown resilience. Their recent form included a gritty 1-0 win at Sunderland and a convincing 3-0 FA Cup triumph over Brighton, results that helped restore confidence after a narrow defeat to Manchester City. With Chelsea dropping points against Burnley and Manchester United not in action until Monday, Liverpool had a golden opportunity to close the gap in the race for Champions League qualification.
On the other side, Nottingham Forest, under new manager Vitor Pereira, were desperate for points to stave off relegation. Pereira’s tenure got off to a flying start with a 3-0 Europa League play-off victory over Fenerbahce just days earlier. Forest had also bested Liverpool in the reverse fixture back in November, but the Reds were under different management at the time. Reflecting on the changes, Slot commented before the game, “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. The good thing is that there is still one game to be played before we play them and we, of course, know him because he worked last season in the Premier League as well. 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. It was a difficult game for us in the beginning of the season—although, again, I’m going to say the same in that the first half-hour was very, very good from us, [with] chance after chance and then we conceded a set-piece and the game went completely the opposite way. So, we know what we can expect if we play Forest because I’ve played them three times already.”
As for the match itself, Liverpool started sluggishly without Wirtz, and the first half ended goalless. The Reds eventually found a breakthrough deep into stoppage time, with Alexis Mac Allister scoring the decisive goal to secure a dramatic 1-0 win. The victory not only kept Liverpool’s Champions League hopes alive but also provided a much-needed morale boost as they navigated a challenging period marked by injuries and fixture congestion.
Looking ahead, Liverpool faces a packed schedule with crucial Premier League fixtures against West Ham and Wolves, as well as a Champions League Round of 16 tie looming on the horizon. Whether Wirtz will be fit in time for these matches remains to be seen, but Slot’s post-match optimism suggests the injury may not be as severe as initially feared.
For now, Liverpool fans will be anxiously awaiting updates on their midfield maestro, hoping his swift recovery will help the Reds maintain momentum in the business end of the season. One thing’s for sure: Wirtz’s absence was felt at the City Ground, but Liverpool’s ability to grind out a win in his stead speaks volumes about their depth and determination.