Salah, Mbeumo lead list of EPL players heading to AFCON

MANCHESTER, England (AP):

Mohamed Salah has gone for up to a month, costing Liverpool their all-time leading goal-scorer in the English Premier League (EPL).

Manchester United have lost their most potent attacking force in Bryan Mbeumo, along with two more key figures.

They’re nothing compared to Sunderland, a promoted team punching above its weight in England’s top flight. They have been decimated by the loss of six players.

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is taking a toll on the EPL, with some of its biggest stars heading off to the tournament situated right in the middle of the season. And this weekend is the first round of matches when teams will have to do without those players.

It is unfortunate that AFCON can be cast as a nuisance for many clubs in Europe – though international football in general can be viewed like that when pitted against club ambitions of winning titles. But at least the World Cup, European Championship or Copa America are staged during the offseason of Europe’s top leagues.

AFCON is traditionally held in January-February, but has been brought forward this year – from Sunday to January 18 – meaning less disruption for leagues in Spain, Germany and France, which have winter breaks of varying periods in December-January.

The Premier League, however, plays through the Christmas and New Year holidays, with the added strain of the FA Cup thrown into one of the busiest periods of the campaign.

The likes of Liverpool and United should have deep enough squads to cope with the loss of key players, such as Salah and Mbeumo. But it could have a major impact on Sunderland, who are just two points off the top-four after an outstanding start to the season.

Arthur Masuaku, Noah Sadiki, Bertrand Traore, Habib Diarra, Chemsdine Talbi and Reinildo Mandava are all taking part in the Africa Cup in Morocco.

Sunderland are outliers with so many going to the tournament, but for Crystal Palace the loss of just one player – Ismaila Sarr – is potentially significant, given his importance to the team. Likewise, Brighton are losing key midfielder Carlos Baleba.

Burnley, second to bottom in the standings, are losing three players and so are Fulham.

Notably, at the top of the table, Arsenal have no players in the AFCON, likewise title-challenging Aston Villa and Chelsea, which could be telling over the next month.

Premier League players going to AFCON

Brentford: Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso), Frank Onyeka (Nigeria)

Brighton: Carlos Baleba (Cameroon)

Burnley: Axel Tuanzebe (DR Congo), Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia), Lyle Foster (South Africa)

Crystal Palace: Ismaila Sarr (Senegal)

Everton: Idrissa Gana Gueye (Senegal), Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal)

Fulham: Calvin Bassey (Nigeria), Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria), Alex Iwobi (Nigeria)

Liverpool: Mohamed Salah (Egypt)

Manchester City: Rayan Ait-Nouri (Algeria), Omar Marmoush (Egypt)

Manchester United: Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco)

Nottingham Forest: Willy Boly (Ivory Coast), Ibrahim Sangare (Ivory Coast)

Sunderland: Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo), Noah Sadiki (DR Congo), Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso), Habib Diarra (Senegal), Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco), Reinildo Mandava (Mozambique)

Tottenham Hotspur: Yves Bissouma (Mali), Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal)

West Ham United: Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo), El Hadji Malik Diouf (Senegal)

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Emmanuel Agbadou (Ivory Coast), Tawanda Chirewa (Zimbabwe)

Key matchups this weekend

On Saturday, first-place Arsenal travel to Everton, while City in second are at home against West Ham. Liverpool will look to win back-to-back league games for the first time since September when the defending champion head to Tottenham.

Aston Villa and Manchester United meet on Sunday.