Why Florian Wirtz Missed Liverpool’s Match Against Preston
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool’s high-profile new signing, did not feature in their pre-season match against Preston North End, leaving fans puzzled.
The £116 million signing from Bayer Leverkusen was expected to make his first appearance for the Reds on Sunday at Deepdale. However, he was absent from the squad list, sparking concern that he might have suffered an injury before even kicking a ball for Liverpool.
According to Liverpool Echo, Wirtz was actually training individually at the club’s Kirkby base, along with several other players who weren’t match-ready due to extended time off following the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva.
The match was Liverpool’s first since the heartbreaking incident, and emotional tributes were paid to the late brothers before kickoff. Players wore black armbands, and Jota’s No.20 shirt has now been officially retired in his memory.
Manager Arne Slot fielded a mixed squad of senior players and youngsters, including Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Ryan Gravenberch. Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, back from a loan at Valencia, made his Liverpool debut, while new arrivals like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong started on the bench.
Captain Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister, Ibrahima Konaté, and Luis Díaz were also among the absentees, as not all players had regained full fitness.
Slot spoke openly about the emotional state of the team, encouraging his players to stay authentic.
