It seems every international break brings fresh problems, but few expected the scale of the latest blow revealed by Arne Slot.

 

The Dutchman confirmed in his press conference that Conor Bradley and Florian Wirtz “can’t play” against Nottingham Forest, calling the situation “far from ideal”.

 

The timing couldn’t be worse as Liverpool navigate a packed schedule. For Wirtz, this is another setback during a period when his adjustment to English football has already become a talking point back home.

 

Just days ago, Sport Bild questioned why the German star has made what they described as a “quiet start”, partly pointing to the attacking setup around him and even claiming Mo Salah had “overlooked” him at times.

 

Now those criticisms collide with a muscle problem that Slot says “maybe should not be that long”, but losing the 22-year-old playmaker strips Liverpool of creativity at a moment when chances have been hard to come by.

 

Bradley’s issue is even more serious. The Northern Ireland defender could be sidelined for “22 days” unless, as Slot put it, “a miracle happens”. With Jeremie Frimpong also out, the boss admitted that “one or two players may have to play out of position”.

 

Bradley’s injury follows recent debate surrounding his positional versatility, after he found himself as the “furthest forward white shirt on the field” for his country this week.

 

While that experiment sparked ideas about evolving his role this season, Liverpool must now find someone else to cover his position.

 

Joe Gomez was name-checked as an option, but with the England defender having only completed “two full games in 2025”, there are understandable concerns about his workload.

 

The full injury picture leaves Liverpool with virtually no room for mistakes over the next three weeks.

 

This is exactly why losing two key players is so significant, especially after the defeat to Manchester City exposed the team’s need for dependable options across the pitch.

 

There was at least some relief: Alisson Becker has returned to full training and Andy Robertson is back with the squad.

 

Even so, the contrast between those positives and the loss of Bradley and Wirtz shows how fast fortunes can shift during a long season.

 

As Slot summed it up, “we do have some issues after the international break”, and with tactical reshuffles now unavoidable, the coming matches may reveal more about Liverpool’s adaptability than earlier wins ever could.