When will Salah be back from AFCON?

The English Premier League has undoubtedly been one of the competitions that have suffered the most due to the start of the African Cup of Nations in the middle of the season. 

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As a result of the pandemic, the international tournament that should have been played in mid-2021 started in January 2022, a fact that greatly affected most of the clubs throughout the European continent due to the obligation to release their players.

Thus, the teams in the English Premier League that were most affected were Arsenal and Liverpool, who had to give up a total of 5 and 3 players respectively. Consequently, Klopp's side not only lost Keita to New Guinea but also Salah and Mané, their two main threats upfront.

Salah has led Egypt to reach the final of the African Cup of Nations and Mané has done the same with Senegal. Both Liverpool players have shown why are top players and play in the best league in the world.

When will Salah and Mané be back from AFCON?

After both players reached the final with their nations, they are expected to be back after Sunday, February 6, which is precisely the day that the final will be played. Liverpool are not going to be able to count again with their two African star players for one more game.

Klopp’s side will face Cardiff City for the FA Cup the same day Salah and Mané will be playing the African Cup Final. With that being said, the Reds players will be landing in Liverpool approximately one or two days after the day of the final.

Players who have already returned

Ghana's disastrous early exit ensured that Thomas Partey (Arsenal), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), and Daniel Amartey (Leicester) returned to their respective clubs a couple of weeks after leaving. 

In fact, Partey played for Arsenal just two days after Ghana's shock 3-2 loss to Comoros. It was an unhappy comeback as he was sent off in the Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to Liverpool.

Algeria's awful tournament ensured an early return to England for Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) and Said Benrahma (West Ham). Pep Guardiola revealed that City had given Mahrez a week to rest, so the winger was not involved in the last Sky Blues draw with Southampton, while Benrahma was also absent for West Ham's 1-0 defeat to Manchester United.

Brendan Rodgers is unlikely to be too upset with Nigeria's elimination as he will have both Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho back in Leicester for the FA Cup fourth-round tie against Nottingham Forest. Watford will be boosted by the return of defender William Troost Ekong while Frank Onyeka has returned to Brentford and Alex Iwobi will join Everton after his costly sending off in the Tunisia defeat.

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