What furious Florian Wirtz was spotted doing on Liverpool bench 10 mins into Nottingham Forest clash
Florian Wirtz cut a more than disappointed figure on the Liverpool bench in the first half of the Reds’ encounter with Nottingham Forest.
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The Germany international had been primed to make his 26th appearance in the Premier League, but found himself instead sidelined after picking up an injury in the warm-up.
The 22-year-old playmaker has registered 14 goal contributions in 35 games (across all competitions) this term.
Florian Wirtz fumes on Liverpool bench
Wirtz, arms crossed and hood up, looked furious on the sideline as the camera panned to the bench (via @TouchlineX on X).
– Florian Wirtz is not looking happy, he was supposed to be playing right now.
Dancing with the ball, giving nutmegs, scoring goals.
But he got injured during the warm up. pic.twitter.com/bQJWKSWQIr
— The Touchline | ???? (@TouchlineX) February 22, 2026
And understandably so, given how the former Bayer Leverkusen star has been enjoying a rich vein of form of late for Arne Slot’s men.
| Florian Wirtz stats in last five Premier League games |
| 5 starts |
| 2 goals |
| 1 assist |
* Florian Wirtz stats (via Transfermarkt)
What injury did Florian Wirtz pick up in the warm-up?
As Jamie Carragher and Co. reviewed footage of Liverpool’s pre-game warm-up, David Jones noted that it seemed to be a somewhat innocuous niggle Wirtz had picked up.
Indeed, the former Bundesliga star didn’t appear to show any obvious signs of having suffered a serious injury – there was not even a limp or a sign of discomfort as he made his way off the pitch.
"Big blow!" @Carra23 and Darren Bent react as Florian Wirtz is out of the Liverpool starting XI due to injury during warm ups, with Curtis Jones replacing him. pic.twitter.com/51CZFHngpU
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 22, 2026
With that in mind, it seems that his removal from action was precautionary more than anything else. At the very least, until we get any further indication of severity from Slot’s post-match presser.
Doubly furious as Liverpool struggle against Nottingham Forest
Florian Wirtz’s mood didn’t show many signs of improvement as the tie progressed.
Though, of course, Liverpool hardly offered much cause for celebration in the opening half hour of action, with Forest pinning the visitors inside their own half (as BBC Sport‘s momentum chart below indicates).
Just before the 40-minute mark, the visitors hadn’t amassed a single shot on target (to Forest’s two), whilst only picking up a single touch in the opposition box.
| Liverpool stats | Nottingham Forest stats |
| 0.06 xG | 0.75 xG |
| 2 shots | 8 shots |
| 0 shots on target | 2 shots on target |
| 1 touch inside opposition box | 10 touches inside opposition box |
* Liverpool and Nottingham Forest’s stats in their Premier League encounter (BBC Sport)
Whilst you’d expect Liverpool to have to weather some kind of storm away in enemy territory, it’s yet another disappointing example of a poor, sluggish start in the Premier League.
READ MORE: One man’s lonely numbers show Liverpool’s real problem in Forest stalemate
Made even more disappointing by the fact that the Reds have had plenty of recovery time – unlike Vitor Pereira’s men, who played a midweek Europa League fixture in Istanbul.
Kind of makes it hard to feel any sympathy for Arne Slot and Co. here, even despite the misfortune of a pre-game injury to Florian Wirtz.
After Wirtz’s glittering display against Sunderland, it’s evident Liverpool could really do with the injection of spark the German would have provided.
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