Florian Wirtz sits out Liverpool training as a seldom-used 22-year-old returns from his loan.

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

The midfielder sat out the weekend loss to Nottingham Forest with a muscle problem, though Arne Slot had suggested the summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen wouldn’t be sidelined for long. However, according to Liverpool World, the Reds’ No. 7 was noticeably absent from Tuesday’s training session at Kirkby ahead of the club’s fifth European match of the campaign.

Wirtz absent from training as young players step in

Having failed to take part in today’s session, Wirtz looks unlikely to feature against PSV — a blow for Liverpool as they seek a crucial win to rebuild confidence and momentum.

As is typical before Champions League fixtures, several academy players trained with the senior squad, including James Norris, who has only just returned to Merseyside after a loan spell with Shelbourne in the League of Ireland. Their season, which follows the calendar year, concluded in early November.

Setback for Wirtz, opportunity for Norris

Wirtz’s potential absence will frustrate both the player and the club, especially after he delivered arguably his strongest performance for Liverpool in the previous Champions League match against Real Madrid.

Slot is expected to offer further clarity later today, but the German’s omission from training suggests he may not return until the West Ham game at the earliest.

Norris, meanwhile, already has European experience this season thanks to Shelbourne’s participation in the Conference League — though his final appearance for the Dublin side ended with a red card in their 1–0 loss to FC Drita earlier this month.

He is ineligible for Liverpool’s Champions League squad as he was not registered, and at 22, he does not qualify for List B, the supplementary youth list. Norris has made just two senior appearances for Liverpool, the last coming almost four years ago against Shrewsbury, but his involvement in training shows he remains on the club’s radar.

A January move — permanent or another loan — appears likely. After a consistent run of games in Ireland, the hope is that he can secure similar opportunities in 2026, wherever his next step takes him.