Liverpool FC: AFCON decision gives team boost for Chelsea fixture

Liverpool FC benefits from the most recent AFCON decision.

Liverpool FC will be without Naby Keita, Mohamed Salah, and Sadio Mane for the upcoming African Cup of Nations – but not just yet. In a decision from earlier today, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has allowed all Liverpool and Chelsea FC participants to leave for the tournament on January 3rd, 2022, instead of January 2nd.

This is a monumental decision considering that the two teams will participate in one of the most highly anticipated English Premier League matches on January 2nd in the new year.  Thanks in part to many parties, one of them being FIFA’s deputy secretary general Mattias Graftstrom.

Both FIFA and the World Leagues Forum have taken a stand for the EPL and Liverpool.

Mattias Graftstrom had this to say in a letter to FIFA regarding the availability of England’s players for the upcoming AFCON tournament.

"“CAF has decided that for those players who have official club matches between the 27 December 2021 and 3 January 2022, the participating member associations in question are to be directed that these players may remain with their clubs to participate in these matches and be released after the last match during this period.” – via The Athletic"

In addition to Grafstrom, The World Leagues Forum (WLF) general secretary Jerome Perlemuter stated that any sanctions from FIFA to clubs who abide by the correct deadline would be irrelevant. This is a massive win for all involved, and for the Reds, this decision could not have come at a better time.

With injuries and COVID-19, Liverpool needs all hands on deck for domestic play until January.

LFC most recently played in some explosive matches in both the EPL and the FA Carabao Cup. The team’s depth has been tested, and as a result, the contests have come down to the last few moments. Not to downplay the importance of AFCON and players representing their home countries, but the Reds cannot afford to lose three players, let alone the likes of Keita, Mane, and Salah. Until new players potentially arrive in the January transfer window, any club that would lose players earlier than they should have the same gripe. For instance, Chelsea will be able to now field goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, one of the EPL’s better-shot blockers.  Fortunately, this AFCON decision is both the right and correct one for all of England’s footballers.