Liverpool: Fans panic as they are set to lose key players for AFCON 2021

Liverpool fans went into meltdown after an official announcement was made that the Africa Cup of Nations will take place between January and February next season.

This would mean that the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita could be unavailable for up to five weeks as the tournament was originally supposed to be held in the summer. Instead, the Confederation of African Football confirmed that the AFCON will be moved back to the winter, as per the Liverpool Echo. John Bennett of BBC Sport confirmed the reasons why the tournament was moved, stating that the rainy season in Cameroon in June and July and the clash with 2021 Club World Cup are two reasons why the AFCON has been moved to the colder months.

Confirmed – the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations will take place in January and February next year.

That means it'll be in the middle of the Premier League season.

It means Salah, Mane, Aubameyang, Zaha, Ndidi, Mahrez etc could miss up to 6 Premier League games next season.

— John Bennett (@JohnBennettBBC) January 15, 2020

Next year’s Club World Cup will be held in China between 17th June and July 4th which will feature 24 teams for the first time in its expanded format, which FIFA has received heavy criticism for as a result. The absences of Salah, Mane and Keita could see the Reds’ Premier League and Champions League campaigns significantly affected, given their importance – particularly in the case of the forwards. As a result, supporters panicked when the decision was announced and made their feelings clear on social media.

Check out some of the best Twitter responses from Liverpool fans down below, as they couldn’t hide their feelings after Bennett revealed the news…