Liverpool might just have seen solution to Florian Wirtz injury blow

Liverpool will be without Florian Wirtz as it takes on Wolves in the Premier League (and probably the FA Cup too), but Arne Slot may have one solution ready at the perfect time

Florian Wirtz has picked up a back injury(Image: Steven Halliwell/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

For all that Liverpool scored five goals against West Ham at the weekend, there is no doubt that Florian Wirtz was missed. And while the clear improvement from set-pieces is a big step in the right direction, more is required in general play too.

Arne Slot's men created just 1.84 expected goals at Anfield on Saturday — just 1.22 from open play — and so while the scoreline looked impressive, the Liverpool boss was right when he said his side has played much better this season. West Ham, by that same metric, had the better of the chances.

When Liverpool takes on Wolves, it will do so without Wirtz once again, and that means others will have to step up in his absence. Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah haven't looked like doing so lately, but one man who could make the difference did return.

Jeremie Frimpong looked sharp when he came off the bench last time out — returning from a month on the sidelines and forcing Axel Disasi's own-goal — and Slot has previously outlined how his skillset can help the Reds against deep-lying defenses.

"If he's fit, he can definitely help us, because last week he had the assist against Tottenham and today he had a great assist against Wolves," Slot explained in December, following the reverse fixture.

"Pace, that's what he has. And that’s so important and crucial in modern football.

Jeremie Frimpong returned from injury during Liverpool's win against West Ham(Image: Steven Halliwell/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

"To create something against a low block, teams that defend with so many players, usually teams break this down with set-pieces — that’s not our biggest strength.

"So to have him available with his pace, because the first goal we scored was pure individual ability: quick, bam-bam, and the cutback cross."

Frimpong's fitness will need to be managed — he won't be starting both games against Wolves this week — but in the Premier League clash on Tuesday, with Wirtz missing, he might be required creatively.

Liverpool has since turned things around on the set-piece front, but just as it couldn't avoid scoring more via that avenue to increase its performance levels, it can't only rely on dead balls to break the deadlock.

"Having Jeremie back is nice, but we have three games in seven days, and you have to take that into account, especially when players come back from injuries," Slot said on Monday.

"We know the importance of every game. It is a challenge for the player, the manager and the performance staff. I prefer to have the problem of managing his minutes, rather than seeing him with the medical staff."

If Frimpong is able to start at Molineux on Tuesday, Liverpool will have a better chance of creating chances with Wirtz missing. As he showed in a brief cameo against West Ham, he has the X-Factor that the likes of Gakpo and Salah are currently lacking.