Florian Wirtz MRI scan results confirmed ahead of Liverpool clash against Arsenal…

Florian Wirtz’s MRI scan results have been confirmed ahead of the Liverpool match against Arsenal.

Wirtz netted a goal in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Fulham before being substituted.

Arne Slot is carefully managing Wirtz’s playing time to prevent him from joining the Liverpool injury list.

The attacking midfielder scored his second goal for the Reds during the 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage. Wirtz equalized in the 57th minute, with his goal upheld after a lengthy VAR review that initially ruled it offside.

The Germany international faced a challenging beginning to his Liverpool tenure after transferring from Bayer Leverkusen for £100 million during the summer transfer window. However, Wirtz has begun to establish himself in recent weeks. He has been dealing with a hamstring issue, which caused him to miss training prior to the 0-0 draw against Leeds United on New Year’s Day, and he was substituted midway through the second half.

Wirtz was also taken off during the match against Fulham. With Hugo Ekitike (hamstring), Alexander Isak (broken leg), and Mo Salah (African Cup of Nations) all unavailable, Liverpool manager Slot found himself short on attacking options at Craven Cottage. Although Wirtz has only been experiencing delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), he is being carefully managed as the Reds prepare for their upcoming match against Premier League leaders Arsenal on Thursday.

Slot commented in his post-match press conference: “Florian had a similar situation last week when we conducted an MRI scan, and it only showed DOMS, so he is not injured. However, he is also adapting to this program for the first time, and with limited players available, I want to utilize those I have and ensure they can play as many minutes as possible, but realistically. That was my approach today.”

Liverpool is concerned about Ekitike’s fitness for the upcoming match against Arsenal. The France international has been outstanding since joining Anfield, having scored 11 goals to date. Wataru Endo (ankle) remains sidelined, along with Giovanni Leoni (ACL), Stefan Bajcetic, and Jayden Danns (both hamstring).