Four Premier League players who can thrive as AFCON replacements

With the African Cup of Nations commencing on the ninth of January, here are four Premier League players who could have the chance to prove their quality for their clubs.

Takumi Minamino

Minamino has only scored once in six Premier League appearances this season but his record in the Carabao Cup has been crucial for the Reds. He has bagged four goals in three games and also has one assist. One of those four goals was a 95th-minute equaliser against Leicester in the quarter-final stage, which Liverpool won on penalties.

The 26-year-old, who is nearing a return from a short injury, has not been able to break into Jurgen Klopp’s starting 11 due to the quality of Salah, Mane, and Diogo Jota. But the Japanese international has shown he can take his opportunities at the international level too.

In 11 World Cup qualifying matches, Minamino has scored nine times for Japan with the nation on course to make it to Qatar at the end of the year.

With Roberto Firmino reportedly out with covid-19, the best front three for Klopp seems to be Minamino, Divock Origi, and Jota. Liverpool face Arsenal twice in the Carabao Cup this month before facing Brentford and Crystal Palace in the league.

Kepa Arrizabalaga

Edouard Mendy has been called up to the Senegal squad for the upcoming tournament. Mendy finished second in the running for the Yashin Award and has been a brick wall for Chelsea over the past two seasons.

Due to Mendy’s start to life in London, Kepa has been restricted to just eight league appearances since the start of the 2020/21 season. However, the Spaniard has made a reputation for his skills in stopping penalties.

In this season’s cup run, Chelsea have beaten both Southampton and Aston Villa on penalties on their way to the semi-finals. Kepa has started in all cup games as Thomas Tuchel aims to win his third trophy as Chelsea manager.

The 27-year-old is likely to replace Mendy this month in a tough run of games. They face Tottenham three times as well as title rivals Manchester City in the league and Chesterfield in the FA Cup.

Hamza Choudhury

Choudhury has recently returned to the Leicester squad and with multiple midfield partners travelling to Cameroon, and a flood of injuries in the team, he has the chance to cement his place in the side.

Wilfried Ndidi, Nampalys Mendy, and Daniel Amartey are all headed to AFCON and due to Leicester’s plague of injuries in the centre-half role, Ndidi and Amartey filled in at defence during their last game against Liverpool.

24-year-old Choudhary has only made five appearances in all competitions this season but has participated in the last two Premier League fixtures against Manchester City and Liverpool. Over the past calendar year, the midfielder ranks in the top 15% in the top five leagues when it comes to tackles, blocks, interceptions, and aerial duels won, although this is with a small sample size.

Brendan Rodgers’ side were knocked out of the Europa League in December and are looking to bounce back in January. They will face Watford in the FA Cup before coming up against Everton, Burnley, and Brighton in the league.

Albert Sambi Lokonga

But with Thomas Partey and Mohammed Elneny joining up with their national teams, Lokonga will have the opportunity to fight for his place in Arteta’s starting 11 once again.

As Ainsley Maitland-Niles is heavily linked with a loan move to AS Roma, the best midfield partnership on paper for Arsenal will be Xhaka and Lokonga for the next month. The Belgian international provides the mobility and pace that the Xhaka lacks and can fulfil the role of Partey to a certain extent.

It is a big month for the Gunners as they face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-finals before a huge clash in the race for a Champions League spot against Tottenham. Arsenal have a large crop of youngsters thriving in the current system and Lokonga will look to add to that exciting project at the Emirates.

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