Liverpool head coach Arne Slot will be back in front of the media this morning
Arne Slot has managed to keep his Liverpool squad relatively fit
Arne Slot says Liverpool's 'luck' with injuries is all down to good work being done off the pitch.
While title rivals Arsenal and Manchester City have suffered crippling blows at times this season, with the Gunners currently missing their four first-choice attackers and City struggling to replace Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, who suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in September, the Reds have managed to keep a relatively clean bill of health.
Key players Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Ryan Gravenberch have started all 28 of the Reds' Premier League matches this season, with Van Dijk and Salah the top two in the division in terms of minutes played.
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Below that star duo, Luis Diaz, Alexis Mac Allister and Trent Alexander-Arnold have featured in 27 of Liverpool's league matches this season, while Cody Gakpo, Andy Robertson and Dominik Szoboszlai have played in 26.
Keeping players fit was one of the key reasons Liverpool appointed Slot in the summer, with the Reds having frequently suffered injury-hit seasons under the Dutchman's predecessor Jurgen Klopp.
Virgil van Dijk (2,520) and Mo Salah (2,483) have played the most minutes in the Premier League this season
Virgil van Dijk (2,520) and Mo Salah (2,483) have played the most minutes in the Premier League this season
And Slot says that his staff are playing a key role in the fitness of his title-chasing squad, who welcome bottom of the table Southampton to Anfield on Saturday.
"If you think injuries are a part of luck, or bad luck, then we have been lucky but we believe that we can prevent them through working," said Slot on Friday.
"So that is not luck for us that we don't have many injuries, top professionals stay fit and we have great facilities and staff. If we can continue this for years then it is probably quality.
"Although you cannot go through a season in this country without injuries. Alisson was injured for a few weeks, (Diogo) Jota four months, Trent, (Conor) Bradley, (Joe) Gomez is out now for three months, so you cannot do it. It is the amount of injuries you try to prevent."
Cody Gakpo faces a race against time to take on Southampton
Gakpo was missing from the squad for the midweek win at Paris Saint-Germain, and Slot says it will be touch and go whether he is fit enough to face the Saints.
"He didn't train yesterday, let's see if he can train today," he said. "A close call, not a long-term one but had some pain yesterday. Let's see where he is today."
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