In contrast to their Premier League competitors, Liverpool will be missing Mohamed Salah in January as a result of selection.
Mohamed Salah didn’t permanently leave the club despite the Saudi Pro League expressing a real interest in him this summer, but Jürgen Klopp will be without his best player for a considerable period of time in 2024.
The final two teams to secure their places at the Ivory Coast for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon and Namibia, have joined the 22 other teams who have previously qualified.
Salah recently played against Tunisia in a friendly match, but he lost. Prior to the most recent international break, Egypt’s participation in the competition was assured.
On January 13, in the middle of the current Premier League season, the event will begin. Since the final is planned for February 11, most teams in the top division of English football will be without specific players until then.
Salah is leaving Liverpool, but unlike in years past, he is the sole player going to the AFCON. Manchester United and Nottingham Forest are two clubs that stand to lose a sizable number of players to the competition. The fact that neither Newcastle United nor Manchester City lost any players to selection ensures their safety.
Although the teams have not yet been announced, Manchester United may anticipate losing André Onana, who rejoined the Cameroon team after being first banished by the manager due to a conflict. That will be a major loss for the Old Trafford starting goalie.
The former striker for Liverpool, Taiwo Awoniyi, is one of a string of seven likely absentees for Nottingham Forest. Just behind Salah, he presently has the second-longest active streak of Premier League goal contributions.
Arsenal might lose a few players, who could be direct competitors of Liverpool. The star is Thomas Partey, and Mohamed Elneny will probably team up with Salah for Egypt duty.
While Salah may be gone with Egypt, Liverpool will play Bournemouth (A), Chelsea (H), Arsenal (A), and Burnley (H).
