Liverpool FORCED to change RB Leipzig plan

Much has been made of the way new head coach Arne Slot has changed this Liverpool team.

On-pitch factors are one thing - and Liverpool’s willingness to sit behind the ball and soak up pressure against Chelsea this past weekend was certainly indicative of that - but off-pitch factors have come to the forefront too.

One of the most significant that has been picked up in the media is Slot letting players stay at their own homes ahead of home games instead of staying in a hotel together as they did under Jurgen Klopp.

The claim is that it makes players more comfortable and relaxed, therefore allowing them to play better the day after.

What happens, then, when the place you’re meant to be sleeping before an away Champions League game has to be changed last minute because it’s actually hosting a conference of that country’s local state presidents?

We will find out tonight as this is exactly what happened to Liverpool upon their arrival in Germany to play RB Leipzig tonight.

BILD are reporting that Liverpool haven’t been able to use the five-star luxury hotel ‘Steigenberger’, as elite teams regularly do on their visits to the eastern German city, as the Conference of Minister-Presidents has reserved the majority of the hotel for the week.

The team are now having to stay at the four-star ‘Westin’ hotel. This isn’t a significant problem as it is a common place for football teams to stay, least of all the German national team, who have used it in the past.

Liverpool's new hotel routine in Leipzig

BILD also report that Liverpool won’t be flying back to England immediately after the game, as is typical, but instead will be staying another night in Germany before heading back on Thursday.

This is seemingly another area that head coach Slot feels will best serve his team to aid in their recovery and therefore aid in their performance.

With it being such a strenuous period for Liverpool, playing seven games in 20 days including all of the teams occupying third to sixth in the Premier League currently, any marginal gains in performance can and should be taken.

The game against Arsenal on Sunday is already shaping up to be pivotal for the season, as it gives Liverpool a chance to go seven points ahead of last season’s runners-up.

Liverpool will be without Diogo Jota in Germany as his status going forward is still unknown, as well as Federico Chiesa, Harvey Elliott and Alisson still being sidelined through injury.

Arne Slot is leaving nothing to chance here. He would rightfully be infuriated by this hotel mix-up, but how it affects on-pitch performance will be revealed tonight.