Liverpool injuries frustrate Arne Slot in tough season

Liverpool manager Arne Slot is convinced injuries have played a major role in his side’s faltering defense of the Premier League title.

The Reds suffered their ninth league defeat of the season with a 2-1 defeat to bottom of the table Wolves on Tuesday and return to Molineux for an FA Cup fifth round tie on Friday.

Slot said the absence of Florian Wirtz, who could be on the bench after missing three games with a back injury, had hampered Liverpool’s progress.

British record signing Alexander Isak has also been sidelined since mid-December with a broken leg.

«I think you see individual players getting better and better, but progress also has setbacks due to injuries,» Slot told reporters on Thursday.

«One of the players who can create a lot from open play is Florian Wirtz. Unfortunately, he was injured three games ago. Before that he could create a lot, the team had a certain balance and we had to adapt to that again. That has happened to us a lot this season.»

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The importance of set pieces has been in the spotlight in recent weeks, with Arsenal’s skill in that area helping them move seven points clear at the top of the table.

Liverpool struggled with set pieces both defensively and offensively for much of the season, but have improved since the turn of the year.

They scored three times from corners in the first half in last weekend’s 5-2 win over West Ham.

“We are not the only team that finds it difficult to create many opportunities from open play,” said Slot.

“It’s also the Premier League and the opposition we face, and other teams too.”

Slot will make changes in Liverpool’s second game of the week against Wolves but was cautious about Wirtz’s chances of featuring.

“He trained half and half with the team yesterday, so he has taken the next step in his rehabilitation,” said Slot.

“Let’s see where he is today and see if he can be available for a few minutes in the best scenario.”

Liverpool’s defense has been particularly hard hit, with Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni both suffering from season-ending injuries, while Joe Gomez and Jeremy Frimpong have also spent long spells on the sidelines.

However, Slot rejected suggestions that Liverpool should have increased squad depth despite spending around £450 million ($601 million) on new players during the summer transfer window.

“When I came in here I always knew this was the model and I’m very happy with that,” he said, while acknowledging that this meant, however, that “it hurts even more when you have three or four long-term injuries”.

Published on March 5, 2026