AFCON 2025: Premier League clubs prepare for weeks without key stars

Premier League managers now adjust plans for a demanding festive period as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations draws near and several of the league’s biggest names prepare to join their national teams in Morocco.

The tournament begins on 21 December and ends on 18 January, creating a stretch in which clubs lose important players for domestic and European matches.

AFCON’s early winter schedule places pressure on squads already juggling league fixtures, derbies and cup ties.

Some players could remain away for nearly a month if their nations reach the latter rounds, and that scenario affects Champions League, Europa League and Carabao Cup matches as well.

One of the most notable fixtures under threat is Arsenal’s home meeting with Liverpool on 7 January.

Mohamed Salah expects to join Egypt for another AFCON campaign, and that commitment puts his availability for the London match in serious doubt.

Liverpool become one of several clubs who must navigate crucial fixtures without their African stars.

Liverpool

Liverpool lose only one player, but the impact carries major weight. Salah travels to Morocco as Egypt chase their first AFCON crown since 2010.

He scored 29 goals last season but struggles to find rhythm in the current campaign.

Arne Slot trusts his summer recruits to provide enough attacking depth while Salah focuses on international duty.

Salah misses six league matches if Egypt reach the final:

Tottenham vs Liverpool – 20 December
Liverpool vs Wolves – 27 December
Liverpool vs Leeds – 30 December
Fulham vs Liverpool – 3 January
Arsenal vs Liverpool – 7 January
Liverpool vs Burnley – 17 January

Manchester City

Manchester City prepare for the departures of Omar Marmoush and Rayan Aït-Nouri. Marmoush impresses since joining from Eintracht Frankfurt but struggles for minutes recently.

Aït-Nouri starts the season strongly before an ankle injury interrupts his rhythm. Both plan to represent Egypt and Algeria respectively.

Their potential absence covers key matches, including derbies and top-four battles:

Man City vs West Ham – 20 December
Nottingham Forest vs Man City – 27 December
Sunderland vs Man City – 30 December
Man City vs Chelsea – 3 January
Man City vs Brighton – 7 January
Man Utd vs Man City – 17 January

Manchester United

Manchester United face one of the biggest disruptions. Ruben Amorim prepares to lose Bryan Mbeumo to Cameroon, Noussair Mazraoui to Morocco and Amad Diallo to Ivory Coast.

All three players carry influence on the right flank, and their departures stretch United’s squad across an intense run of fixtures.

Aston Villa vs Man Utd – 20 December
Man Utd vs Newcastle – 27 December
Man Utd vs Wolves – 30 December
Leeds vs Man Utd – 3 January
Burnley vs Man Utd – 7 January
Man Utd vs Man City – 17 January

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham lose one major midfielder as Pape Sarr joins Senegal. Thomas Frank continues without Yves Bissouma, who deals with an ankle injury that rules him out of Mali’s squad. Spurs benefit from Mohammed Kudus’ availability after Ghana fail to qualify.

Tottenham vs Liverpool – 20 December
Crystal Palace vs Tottenham – 27 December
Brentford vs Tottenham – 30 December
Tottenham vs Sunderland – 3 January
Bournemouth vs Tottenham – 7 January
West Ham vs Tottenham – 17 January

Chelsea and Arsenal avoid AFCON disruption after summer squad changes and missed national-team qualifications, leaving both clubs unaffected by the tournament.

Premier League sides now confront a challenging winter as AFCON reshapes their line-ups at one of the season’s busiest stages.