Liverpool set for major boost during AFCON with new European clubs demand

The coronavirus effect is overtaking for a second time, with the Premier League postponing 10 more league fixtures. Now with recent developments looking gloomy once again, the AFCON could be cancelled as well, working well in favour of those who have African stars, like Liverpool.

The Premier League set off its most game cancellations to date with six fixtures called off for the weekend of Matchday 18. This has all clubs, the top flight and lower divisions, taking extreme measures and reinstalling some of the stricter protocols that were once enforced by clubs in the past.

Added to this, reports suggest the European Club Association (ECA) have a major apprehension about sending their players from Africa to partake in the up and coming AFCON tournament.

The word on the street is that the ECA have made it clear in a written letter to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), that teams/clubs are free to deny their players leave for international duty, due to the ongoing rise in numbers worldwide.

"The European Club Association (ECA) have written to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), making clear that teams could refuse to release African players for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations."

This plays into Liverpool’s hands

This doesn’t only play well for the Reds and Jurgen Klopp, however, they benefit more than the rest, with three players available for selection again — that’s if the “demands” stand of the ECA.

Of the three outfielders, they get to keep Mohamed Salah, who has been the best provider of goals and assists this season — arguably the best player in the world at the moment.

The man has been playing ball like someone possessed and even if the Reds had planned to do work during the January transfer window, he is expressing totally irreplaceable form.

With him, Naby Keita and Sadio Mane will also be staying behind for Liverpool, if things go according to plan of the European clubs. Between the three African players, they have contributed to 35 goals of the Reds 48.

The letter written by ECA to CAF:

"With the January 2022 window and AFCON fast approaching, all stakeholders are again unfortunately having to deal with an aggravation of the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent implementation of new restrictions by various governmental authorities.As you know, the pandemic and its associated implications raise three fundamental concerns for clubs when it comes to the release of players to national teams: first and foremost, the clubs’ duty to ensure each and every player’s wellbeing is properly protected; second, that clubs are not forced to be without players for club competition matches; third, that all players resume their activities with their clubs following national duty in a timely fashion, as per the applicable rules.The letter went on to provide more details around those three “fundamental and legitimate concerns. Against this background, please note that, at its meeting of 2 December 2021, the ECA Executive Board unanimously re-confirmed its position that the three principles referred to above must be strictly respected and, should this not be the case, that players not be released for national team duty.At present, these three principles are at risk of not being respected in connection with the upcoming January releases. (Via: liverpoolecho.co.uk)"

Jurgen Klopp and his Liverpool side continue to fight on all fronts as they hit the busy festive period. The manager knows how important these African stars are to his squad and his push for silverware, he will undoubtedly be thankful if they stay.

The only way this can be seen as a setback is if the Reds were to do any transfer work during the window, this would surely see them hang back and suss out the situation come January.