The Premier League is in a storm! Salah is in the Africa Cup of Nations, and the comeback of Manchester City's two stars is a variable
At the beginning of 2023, the world of football will be a storm, with the Africa Cup of Nations and the Asian Cup of Nations about to kick off in mid-January, and the Premier League becoming the biggest casualty. A full 17 Premier League teams will face the dilemma of being withdrawn, with only Manchester City, Burnley and Newcastle being spared.
The impact of player redeployment will not only be a test for relegation teams, but will also set off new waves in the Premier League title race. Nottingham Forest were the most affected team, with six key players set to miss multiple games in January, adding to the situation for a team that had been teetering on the brink of relegation.
In the title race, Liverpool became the biggest loser. Salah and Endo will go to the Africa Cup of Nations and the Asian Cup, which is undoubtedly a heavy blow to Liverpool, who rely on Salah's forward firepower. Mohamed Salah tops both the Premier League's top scorers and assists charts, and his departure could cost the Reds an important pivot in their title quest.
Manchester City, by contrast, have come out unscathed in this storm of player draw-ups. Not only did Manchester City have no players leaving for the tournament, but they also welcomed the return of two superstars, Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland. This undoubtedly provides Manchester City with a strong fighting force, especially the return of Haaland, which will make Manchester City's forward line even more deadly.
In the race for the top four, Manchester United and Tottenham are also facing a lot of troubles. Manchester United's three key players including Onana, Diallo and Amrabat will leave, while Tottenham have lost three key players including Son Heung-min. This will have a profound impact on the situation of the two teams in the race for the fourth, which is unpredictable.
With the Africa Cup of Nations and the Asian Cup kicking off, the Premier League will usher in an unprecedented scuffle. This football storm will determine the glory of English football and will also become the focus of fans' attention. On this cold winter day, let's wait and see how the Premier League has changed.