Wirtz skips Liverpool training session while a forgotten 22-year-old reappears after loan spell.

Florian Wirtz is now a major doubt for Liverpool’s Champions League meeting with PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night.

 

The German midfielder sat out the weekend loss to Nottingham Forest due to a muscle problem. Although Arne Slot had initially hoped the summer signing wouldn’t face a lengthy spell out, his situation looks worrying.

 

According to Liverpool World, Wirtz was nowhere to be seen during Tuesday’s training session at Kirkby, raising further concerns about his availability for tomorrow’s crucial European tie. With no involvement in training, his chances of featuring against PSV appear slim — a blow for Liverpool as they aim to regain momentum in what feels like a must-win fixture.

 

As is typical before Champions League games, several academy players joined the senior squad for training, including James Norris, who has just returned from a loan spell at Shelbourne. The Irish club’s season, which runs on the calendar year system, ended earlier this month.

 

It’s a frustrating development for both Liverpool and Wirtz, who had delivered arguably his best Reds performance in the previous Champions League match against Real Madrid. Slot is expected to give a clearer update later today, but the midfielder may not return until the West Ham match next weekend at the earliest.

 

Norris, meanwhile, has already featured in Europe this season with Shelbourne in the Conference League, although his final outing ended in a red card during a 1-0 defeat to FC Drita. He cannot take part in the Champions League league phase for Liverpool as he isn’t registered in the UEFA squad, and at 22, he’s too old for List B.

 

The defender has made only two first-team appearances for Liverpool — the last nearly four years ago — but his presence in training suggests he is still on the club’s radar. A January move, either a loan or permanent switch, seems likely, and after a season of consistent minutes in Ireland, he’ll hope for similar opportunities in 2026 wherever he ends up.