Jurgen Klopp set to change Florian Wirtz plan after injury blows

Jurgen Klopp set to change Florian Wirtz plan after injury blows Florian Wirtz Handed Early Klopp Opportunity After Germany Injury Blow There are moments when a player needs distance from the conversation surrounding him. Florian Wirtz might reasonably have expected this to be one of them. Liverpool’s trip to Bournemouth was supposed to be followed by a few precious days away from international football. Wirtz had originally been placed in the second half of Jürgen Klopp’s unusually large Germany squad, meaning he was not expected to report for duty until September 27. Injuries, though, have changed the schedule. Wirtz has been summoned early, offering him another opportunity to rediscover the rhythm Liverpool have spent more than a year waiting to see consistently. Wirtz pressure continues at Liverpool Wirtz arrived from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2025 for approximately £100 million plus bonuses. Such figures inevitably become part of a footballer’s identity. Photo: IMAGO His first Premier League season brought five goals and three assists from 33 appearances. This campaign has started slowly too, with no goals and one assist from his opening five league games. For Liverpool, now under Andoni Iraola following Arne Slot’s departure in May, unlocking Wirtz remains one of the more intriguing challenges of the new era. Klopp, now Germany manager, has been keen to provide some perspective. “The communication has been very pleasant. I think he’s the player who covered the most ground at Liverpool this season, so the willingness is absolutely there.” He added: “You have to be satisfied with a game in which Flo Wirtz gave everything but didn’t have a goal or assist. There are just as many reasons to say: ‘He is performing perfectly fine.’ Now we’ll take the next steps together.” Klopp forced into Germany changes Those steps have been accelerated by injuries to Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz. According to Sky Sport Germany, Wirtz and Eintracht Frankfurt striker Jonathan Burkardt have been promoted from Klopp’s second group ahead of Sunday’s Nations League meeting with Greece in Augsburg. Musiala suffered a muscle fibre tear in his right thigh during the warm-up before Germany’s 1-1 draw against the Netherlands, while Havertz departed during the first half with a muscle problem. Klopp subsequently said: “Both are currently undergoing an MRI. I hope we get the diagnosis this evening. But of course, this isn’t great. The lads are probably out for us. But hopefully, they’ll be back in action relatively quickly.” Liverpool lose valuable Wirtz recovery time Klopp had divided a 44-man Germany squad into two groups across an extended international window. Wirtz’s inclusion in the second group was therefore part of a broader selection plan rather than a demotion. For Liverpool, however, circumstances have removed what could have been a useful period of recovery. Wirtz has been working through a difficult spell in which every performance is inevitably measured against his transfer fee. A few quiet days might have helped. Instead, he has been handed another stage. Perhaps that will prove equally valuable. Wirtz needs performances, confidence and moments capable of shifting the discussion surrounding him. Klopp clearly retains faith in his qualities. Now Germany may provide Wirtz with an earlier opportunity to remind Liverpool why so much was expected of him in the first place.