Arne Slot on whether Liverpool have been ‘lucky’ with injuries and Cody Gakpo’s fitness | OneFootball

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has rejected the notion that his side’s kind injury record this season is purely down to luck, crediting the club’s medical staff and the professionalism of his players.

The Reds currently sit 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League, a position strengthened by their ability to keep key players available while title rivals Arsenal and Manchester City have endured major injury setbacks.

Arsenal are currently without their four first-choice attackers, including Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus, and City have struggled since losing Ballon d’Or winner Rodri to an ACL injury in September. But Liverpool have managed to avoid such issues for the majority of the campaign.

Preventing injuries was a priority when Liverpool appointed Slot last summer, following several injury-hit seasons under Jurgen Klopp. And the Dutchman insists their current fitness levels are a result of careful planning rather than pure fortune.

“We don’t have many injuries, I don’t see that as luck,” Slot said ahead of Saturday’s game against Southampton. “First of all, our players are professionals and try to stay fit, and we have great facilities and staff. You have to look at this over a long period of time to see if it is luck or something else.”

Slot acknowledged that Liverpool have had absentees this season, pointing to the likes of Diogo Jota, Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Conor Bradley, who have all missed significant spells. Joe Gomez is also set for a long layoff, while Cody Gakpo remains a doubt for Saturday’s clash with Southampton after missing the midweek Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain.

“If you think injuries are only down to luck or bad luck, then we have been lucky,” Slot added. “But we believe in trying to prevent them through our way of working. If we can continue this for years without major injuries, then it is probably also down to quality.

“You can’t go through a season in the Premier League, the Champions League, and all the domestic cups without injuries. But it’s about the number of injuries you try to prevent. It could be luck, but I hope we are doing things the right way so it is not only luck.”

On Gakpo’s fitness, Slot admitted the Dutch forward remains a “close call” for the weekend. “He didn’t train yesterday, so let’s see if he can train today,” he said. “It’s not a long-term injury, but he still had some pain. We’ll have to wait and see where he is.”

Liverpool will look to maintain their dominance at the top of the table when they host bottom-side Southampton at Anfield on Saturday.