The Africa Cup of Nations is approaching and Premier League clubs are planning for life without some of their biggest stars.
The biennial tournament kicks off in Morocco on December 21 and runs until January 18, 2026 meaning Africa’s biggest talents will miss key domestic and European fixtures.
The Africa Cup of Nations takes centre stage this winter with Premier League clubs set to lose a host of key players
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The Africa Cup of Nations takes centre stage this winter with Premier League clubs set to lose a host of key playersCredit: AFP
AFCON’s earlier scheduling this year will see Premier League clubs lose their star names for the hectic festive period including derbies and potential title deciding fixtures.
Depending on how deep players go into the tournament, clubs could potentially see their African players miss league phase matches in the Champions League and Europa League as well as FA Cup and Carabao Cup matches.
One of the games that could be affected is Arsenal’s crunch clash at home to Liverpool scheduled for January 7.
And that could see Mohamed Salah miss the trip to the Emirates due to his international exploits.
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The Reds are not the only team likely to be affected by the scheduling of AFCON with other top flight teams also set to rue the absence of key names.
Liverpool
The Reds have just one player heading to AFCON but it is a noteworthy one.
Salah will swap Anfield for Morocco this winter in a bid to help Egypt land their first AFCON title since 2010.
The 33-year-old netted 29 goals for Liverpool last season but has struggled for form this term.
But there is little doubt that Salah remains one of Liverpool’s most important player and boss Arne Slot will hope a summer splurge on new attackers will help fill the void the Egyptian will leave by his absence.
And that absence could be felt mostly when the reigning Premier League champions take on Arsenal – who have no players heading to AFCON – in a potential title showdown early in the new year.
But Liverpool may also hope a change of scenery for Salah will help rejuvenate his stumbling campaign to date and he will come back in better form.
Should Salah go the distance with Egypt then he would miss six Premier League fixtures.
Tottenham vs Liverpool - December 20
Liverpool vs Wolves - December 27
Liverpool vs Leeds United - December 30
Fulham vs Liverpool - January 3
Arsenal vs Liverpool - January 7
Liverpool vs Burnley - January 17
Liverpool could be without talisman Mohamed Salah for up to a month
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Liverpool could be without talisman Mohamed Salah for up to a monthCredit: Getty
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola’s side will lose two players to AFCON with Omar Marmoush set to join the Egypt camp while Rayan Ait-Nouri is certain to represent Algeria.
Marmoush has shown his quality since his arrival from Eintracht Frankfurt in January but has found minutes hard to come by more recently.
Meanwhile, Ait-Nouri featured heavily in City’s opening games of the season before being sidelined with an ankle injury.
The pair are set to miss key fixtures against Chelsea and Manchester United this winter should they make it to the latter stages of the AFCON.
Man City vs West Ham - December 20
Nottingham Forest vs Man City - December 27
Sunderland vs Man City- December 30
Man City vs Chelsea - January 3
Man City vs Brighton - January 7
Man Utd vs Man City - January 17
Omar Marmoush is likely to join Salah in the Egypt squad ahead of AFCON
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Omar Marmoush is likely to join Salah in the Egypt squad ahead of AFCONCredit: Getty
Manchester United
Ruben Amorim's United are set to be one of the sides most affected by AFCON.
The Red Devils are likely to lose three of their stars when the tournament kicks off in December.
Summer signing Bryan Mbeumo is likely to feature for Cameroon while defender Noussair Mazraoui is set to feature for host country Morocco.
Winger Amad Diallo should be part of the Ivory Coast squad for the competition as they look to retain the trophy they won two years ago.
Aston Villa vs Man Utd - December 20
Man Utd vs Newcastle - December 27
Man Utd vs Wolves - December 30
Leeds vs Man Utd - January 3
Burnley vs Man Utd - January 7
Man Utd vs Man City - January 17
Man United could be without Bryan Mbeumo for up to four weeks
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Man United could be without Bryan Mbeumo for up to four weeksCredit: Getty
Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs look set to lose just one player to AFCON but midfield will be a particular concern for boss Thomas Frank.
Yves Bissouma has an ankle injury which will keep him out of action for Mali but Pape Sarr is set to feature for Senegal.
But there is good news for Frank who will be able to call upon the services of Mohammed Kudus after Ghana failed to qualify for the tournament.
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Tottenham vs Liverpool - December 20
Crystal Palace vs Tottenham - December 27
Brentford vs Tottenham - December 30
Tottenham vs Sunderland - January 3
Bournemouth vs Tottenham - January 7
West Ham vs Tottenham - January 17
Meanwhile, the departure of Nicolas Jackson this summer means Chelsea have no concerns over AFCON, with Arsenal in a similar situation.
Pape Sarr could miss a host of key fixtures for Spurs
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Pape Sarr could miss a host of key fixtures for SpursCredit: Getty