Florian Wirtz faces Liverpool fitness race as he battles ankle injury

Wirtz is a doubt for Wednesday's Carabao Cup tie at Chelsea with an ankle problem, though manager Iraola is optimistic he will be available.

Florian Wirtz faces a fitness race ahead of Liverpool's Carabao Cup clash with Chelsea on Wednesday. The German midfielder has an ankle problem that has left his availability uncertain, though manager Andoni Iraola expressed optimism about his chances of playing. "Florian, I'm quite optimistic that he will be available," Iraola said.

Wirtz is not alone in the treatment room. Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Munoz are major fitness doubts with thigh and knee problems respectively and have missed Liverpool's last two games. Iraola suggested their availability is less certain than Wirtz's. Liverpool will also be without Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Jeremie Frimpong through injury.

Despite the injury concerns, Iraola confirmed there will be changes to the team and rotation is expected, with players such as Lewis Koumas, Trey Nyoni, Rio Ngumoha and Kostas Tsimikas potentially coming in. "There will definitely be changes. But we want to win the game, we want to be competitive," he said.