- Chelsea will be without Nicklas Jackson. The Senegalese forward has had a mixed start to his Chelsea career despite scoring seven goals for the Blues.
- A total of 32 players who ply trade in the EPL will be in action at the Afcon.
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With just a week before the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations championship kicks off in Ivory Coast, the English Premier League will make do without some of the star players who will be rubbing shoulders in the West African nation.
EPL clubs will lose some of their dependable players for the month-long competition should their teams reach the finals of the biennial tournament, meaning the players will miss at least four matches starting with this weekend's FA Cup third-round fixtures.
African players have made their names by playing in England's top-tier competition-considered the most attractive league in the world.
Mohamed Salah, with 14 goals to his name this season, and a favourite for the Golden Boot award should he extend his goal-scoring streak, will be a big loss for Liverpool.
The Reds talisman has been a big success since he moved to Anfield in 2017. Table-topping Liverpool are title contenders and matches against Arsenal, Fulham, Bournemouth and Chelsea will be a tough test for the Jurgen Klopp-coached side without their most dangerous attacker.
Chelsea will be without Nicklas Jackson. The Senegalese forward has had a mixed start to his Chelsea career despite scoring seven goals for the Blues.
Andre Onana will join up with his Cameroon teammates after his Manchester United side plays Tottenham on January 14. United will also miss the services of Sofiane Amrabat who was instrumental for Morocco in their 2019 title triumph while fast-rising Amad Diallo will look to impress on home soil.
Mohamed Elneny who has had limited playing time for Arsenal this season is expected to bolster the Egypt midfield.
Ola Aina (Nigeria), Serge Aurier (Ivory Coast), Willy Boly (Ivory Coast), Cheikhou Kouyate (Senegal), Moussa Niakhate (Senegal) and Ibrahim Sangare (Ivory Coast) are the six players Nottingham Forest will miss.
Fulham will have to navigate through their tricky fixtures without Fode Ballo-Toure (Senegal) and the Nigerian duo of Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi.
Nayef Aguerd (Morocco) and Mohammed Kudus (Ghana) are unavailable for West Ham while
Tottenham will continue with their top-four push in the absence of Yves Malian midfielder Bissouma and Senegalese Pape Matar Sarr.
Everton, Luton, Crystal Palace, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea will all lose one player each while Burnley, Manchester City, and Newcastle will lose none of their players.
A total of 32 players who ply trade in the EPL will be in action at the Afcon.