Anfield’s Last-Minute Headache: Florian Wirtz Sidelined as Liverpool Battles Forest
The Liverpool midfielder was set to start, but a last-minute issue forced him out of the lineup.
Liverpool faced an unexpected crisis just minutes before kick-off against Nottingham Forest. As the teams headed to the locker rooms following their warm-ups, news broke that Florian Wirtz had been pulled from the starting XI. After feeling physical discomfort during the final drills, the medical staff advised against risking the German playmaker, leaving Slot with a massive hole in his creative engine room.
The decision forced an immediate pivot. Slot had built his 4-2-3-1 system around Wirtz’s elite vision and mobility. However, with the high-intensity atmosphere of the City Ground looming, medical precaution outweighed competitive risk.
The Curtis Jones Opportunity
The primary beneficiary of the late scratch was Curtis Jones, who stepped into the "Number 10" role. Jones was tasked with being the link-man between the double pivot and the explosive wingers. While the tactical blueprint remained largely the same, the "flavor" of the attack changed; where Wirtz looks for the killer pass, Jones provides a more robust, ball-carrying presence to combat Forest’s high-press.
Slot’s Tactical Chessboard
Aside from the Wirtz-for-Jones swap, Slot maintained the core that recently dismantled Brighton in the FA Cup, but with some fascinating tweaks:
- The Ekitike Factor: Hugo Ekitike led the line as the mobile striker. His job was to drag Forest’s center-backs out of position, creating "pockets" for Jones and the wingers to exploit.
- The Gravenberch Engine: Ryan Gravenberch continued his dominant run in the midfield, providing the physical shield and the late runs into the box that have become a hallmark of his 2026 campaign.
- The Szoboszlai Hybrid: Perhaps the most interesting move was Dominik Szoboszlai’s positioning. Slot deployed him in a deeper, right-leaning role. This "hybrid" function allows Szoboszlai to use his immense physical engine to balance the system, providing cover for the defense while still progressing the ball forward.
The Wirtz Verdict: How Serious is It?
While the club has yet to release a formal medical report, the fact that Wirtz was withdrawn preventatively suggests the staff is trying to get ahead of a potential long-term issue. In a 2026 season where Liverpool is fighting on four fronts, losing Wirtz for any significant period would be a catastrophe. His ability to break lines and "filter" passes is what separates this Liverpool side from the rest of the pack.
Notably, third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman also made a rare appearance on the bench to fill the vacancy left by the reshuffle, indicating that Slot wanted as many "contingency" options as possible for a grueling away fixture.
As the Reds navigate this high-stakes period, all eyes remain on Wirtz’s recovery. Liverpool can survive a match without him, but they’ll need him at 100% if they want to lift the Premier League trophy come May.
