Liverpool are once again preparing for the mid-season disruption caused by the Africa Cup of Nations. The Reds will lose Mohamed Salah to the tournament in Morocco, which begins on December 21. Even in a season where he has struggled to hit top form under Arne Slot, Salah’s absence is a major blow. At minimum, he will miss three Liverpool matches.
However, if Egypt reach the final on January 18, that number could rise to eight – which would include tough trips to Tottenham and Arsenal. This is a familiar issue for Liverpool, who have repeatedly had to cope without key players during AFCON in previous campaigns. This winter, Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham, Aston Villa and several others will see players leave for international duty.
However, Bournemouth will not be affected by AFCON. Notably, Antoine Semenyo’s Ghana failed to qualify for the tournament. The Ghana forward is in electric form, sitting among the Premier League’s top scorers with six goals from his first 13 matches of the season. Yet Ghana’s shock failure to qualify for AFCON means Semenyo will not be away on international duty this winter.
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For Bournemouth, that is a huge boost during a crucial period of the season. For other clubs, especially Liverpool, it is an opportunity. Antoine Semenyo has been repeatedly linked with a move to Anfield, with rumours circulating as far back as last season that he could be a long-term successor to Salah. The fact that he will be available throughout January only increases his appeal.
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Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes knows the player well, having originally signed Semenyo for Bournemouth in 2023 from Bristol City for £10m. Antoine Semenyo also qualifies as a homegrown player. Semenyo was born in Chelsea and developed in the Bristol City academy. As a result, it could be a major advantage for Liverpool, who currently lack depth in homegrown senior players.
The 25-year-old’s performances this season have caught the eye of several top clubs. Manchester City and Tottenham are also monitoring him closely, despite his decision to sign a new contract with Bournemouth in the summer.
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