Liverpool boss Arne Slot has dismissed the notion that his Premier League leaders have breezed through the season without real adversity. His remarks followed repeated claims from Arsenal supporters, including former Gunners goalkeeper David Seaman, who suggested Liverpool’s success owes much to “lucky” breaks with injuries.
Slot, in his first campaign at Anfield, acknowledged that his team has won several tight games, sometimes under pressure. Yet he insisted their relatively good health record has come from more than mere chance. “If you think injuries are only a part of luck or bad luck then we’ve been lucky,” he told reporters on Friday, “but we try to believe in preventing them by working a certain way.”
Shortly after Arsenal fans voiced frustrations over the Reds’ squad continuity, Slot named players who have been sidelined for substantial periods. “Diogo Jota was out for three or four months. Alisson Becker has been out for weeks, maybe even months, and Trent Alexander-Arnold has missed games,” he said. “Joe Gomez is out now for three months. We also have our injuries, but you cannot go through a season without an injury.”
Arne Slot denies Liverpool’s “lucky” injury run
He then explained why he believes his side’s minimal disruption owes less to luck and more to everyday commitment. “I see it as, first of all, top professionals, our players do everything to try to stay fit, and second of all, great facilities and a great staff,” Slot said. “You need to show this over a longer period of time to consider it luck or bad luck.”
Arsenal supporters argue that with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel Jesus sidelined, the title race is all but settled. David Seaman even remarked that Liverpool, without Mohamed Salah, would look equally vulnerable. Slot, however, cited Michael Jordan’s mindset of hard work generating its own fortune. “We weren’t a little bit lucky [against Paris Saint-Germain], we were really lucky,” he said earlier this week. “But as Michael Jordan said once, ‘The harder you work, the more luck you have.’”
Despite the ongoing debates, Liverpool’s edge in the standings reflects a club that has combined resilience and form. Slot admits that occasional good fortune cannot be discounted, especially in grueling competitions like the Premier League and Champions League. Even so, he wants the conversation to shift from Liverpool’s alleged luck to the team’s day-to-day focus.
“Whether it’s luck or not, you have to show consistency,” Slot said. “If we keep doing this for years without many big injuries, then it’s probably also quality.”
