Liverpool’s preparations for Wednesday night’s crucial Champions League showdown against PSV Eindhoven have taken an unexpected twist, with Florian Wirtz nowhere to be seen at the AXA Training Centre on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old midfielder, who already missed the defeat to Nottingham Forest due to a muscle problem, had been expected to recover quickly. Arne Slot previously played down fears of a lengthy absence following his summer move from Bayer Leverkusen.
However, Liverpool World reports that the club’s new No. 7 did not participate in the latest training session in Kirkby, casting serious doubt over his availability for the must-win European clash at Anfield.
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Wirtz Likely to Miss PSV Clash as Liverpool Feel the Blow
Given his absence from Tuesday’s session, the chances of Wirtz featuring against the Dutch side appear slim. It’s a major setback for Liverpool, especially considering how impressive he was during the recent Champions League meeting with Real Madrid — arguably his standout performance since arriving on Merseyside.
Slot is expected to address the situation during his media duties later today, but signs now point toward a possible return no earlier than the West Ham fixture next weekend.
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Meanwhile… A Less Familiar Face Rejoins the Squad
While Wirtz’s absence dominated the headlines, one unexpected figure did join first-team training — James Norris, freshly back from his loan spell at League of Ireland side Shelbourne.
The 22-year-old defender took part in the session after concluding Shelbourne’s season earlier this month. Their campaign runs on a calendar-year schedule, allowing Norris to return to Merseyside ahead of winter.
Despite gaining valuable game time — including involvement in the UEFA Conference League — Norris won’t be able to play for Liverpool in the Champions League league phase. He wasn’t registered in the main squad and is now too old to be added via UEFA’s List B.
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What’s Next for the Returning Defender?
Norris has only made two senior appearances for Liverpool, the last of which came nearly four years ago. While he’s unlikely to feature this season, his presence in training shows he hasn’t vanished from the club’s long-term thoughts entirely.
With January approaching, another loan move — or even a permanent exit — seems increasingly probable. After a productive year with Shelbourne, he’ll be hoping for another consistent run of football wherever he ends up in 2026.
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