However, that game at PSG has resulted in some rival fans believing luck is playing a part in Liverpool's success this season.

Regular title challengers and rivals Arsenal and Manchester City have struggled this season with both teams suffering injuries to key players, and Liverpool have capitalised by moving 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League.

The Reds can go 16 points clear with a win against Southampton on Saturday, before the second-placed Gunners play the two games in hand they would have by then against Manchester United on Sunday and Chelsea a week later.

Prior to the game in Paris, the Reds won against a Manchester City side who were missing striker Erling Haaland and beat a Newcastle side without free-scoring forward Alexander Isak.

'Not luck if you work as hard as we do' - Slot	Arne Slot dismisses Liverpool ‘luck’ and points out key to lack of injuries	Arne Slot explains 'biggest compliment' he can give Liverpool pair he finds hard not to pick

The Magpies will also be missing the suspended forward Anthony Gordon and the injured defensive duo of Sven Botman and Lewis Hall when they play Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, 16 March.

"If you want to win something you need to have once in a while a game where you don't play your best football and you are lucky - which is maybe not luck if you work as hard as we do - to get away with a result," added Slot.

"There are almost no teams that play 38 games [in the league] or in the Champions League that play only good football.

"Real Madrid are the best example of that, they also find a way to win a game if the other team are better than them."

Slot, who will serve the second game of a two-match touchline ban against Southampton, also defended his team against suggestions they have been fortunate on the injury front compared to their rivals.

Arsenal, who have finished second for the past two seasons, are without forwards Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, while champions Manchester City have been without Ballon d'Or-winning midfielder Rodri for most of the season.

"If you think injuries are only a part of luck or bad luck then we've been lucky but we try to believe in the fact that we try to prevent them from a certain way of working," said Slot, who is in his first managerial season in the Premier League after replacing Jurgen Klopp last summer.

"That we don't have many injuries, I don't see that as luck.

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.

"You need to show this over a longer period of time to consider it luck or bad luck.

If we can continue doing this for years without many big injuries then it's probably also quality, although you cannot go through a season in the Premier League, Champions League and all these cup competitions we play in this country without any injuries.

"Diogo Jota was out for three or four months without a start, Alisson has been out for weeks, maybe even months, Trent Alexander-Arnold has been out, Conor Bradley [is injured].

"We also have our injuries but you cannot go through a season without an injury.
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