Why is Florian Wirtz not playing for Liverpool against PSV in the Champions League?
The German midfielder was left out of the squad submitted by Arne Slot for their European clash.
The stars are yet to align for Liverpool this season, both in the abstract and on the tactics boards set up in England’s northwest. If the deepest corner of the cosmos is host to a deist God that governs us all from dimensions we cannot perceive then He is not a scouser: but that does not take away from the fact that when the chips are down, the ball is not going in the net for the Reds.
As Liverpool look to pick up the pieces following a stunning loss to Premier League’s low-hanging fruit in Nottingham Forest, they will have to go again without the player hopes and dreams and cosmic outcomes were built upon in preseason: Florian Wirtz.
A muscle injury picked up on international duty will keep the former Bayer Leverkusen man out of action in this week’s Champions League game at home to PSV Eindhoven, just as it did in the loss to lowly Forest at the weekend. He did not train on the eve of the game, further adding fuel to the fire.
No player has made more Key Passes in the Champions League this season than Florian Wirtz (16). 🗝️ pic.twitter.com/9ncdg1reFZ
— WhoScored (@WhoScored) November 25, 2025
Harsh as it may sound, Wirtz’s statistical contribution may not be missed at home against their Dutch opponents: the midfielder has registered just two assists in the Champions League across four games and is yet to score; in the domestic competition, he has not found the net once, nor has he provided to a teammate.
All of Frimpong, Bradley, and Leoni will be missing for Slot, who will likely deploy Szobozslai in the right-back role once again.
While PSV may not present the toughest challenge imaginable in the Champions League this season, after 4 games Liverpool find themselves with just 9 points, having won 3 and lost 1 game so far. But it is their wider form is more of a concern: across the last 10 matches, Slot’s team have only won on 3 occasions, marking one of the worst runs in recent memory.
Arne Slot and his players are out on the training pitch at The AXA ahead of tomorrow's game with PSV
— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) November 25, 2025
❌ No sign of Conor Bradley, Florian Wirtz or Jeremie Frimpong pic.twitter.com/Ib9w5pxPvN
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Liverpool host PSV Eindhoven at Anfield in the UEFA Champions League at 3pm ET on Wednesday 26 November. Follow the game live on AS USA.
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