Due to CONMEBOL's World Cup Qualifying, up to 16 Premier League South American players could be absent this weekend.
Some players will be playing for their country just 35 hours before their club matches kick off when the Premier League returns from its international fortnight.
Although the UK government has relaxed its quarantine rules to allow players to return from'red' countries, many South American teams play their qualifiers too early before the Premier League returns on Saturday.
After Argentina and Brazil declared that they won't allow Premier League players to return earlier, nine Premier League clubs may be affected.
What players are affected?
Image: Fabinho and Alisson kick off just 35 minutes before Liverpool's match at Watford
Liverpool has two players in Brazil's squad against Uruguay at 1.30am UK time on Friday. Fabinho, Alisson and the match will start just 35 hours before Watford at 12.30pm.
According to reports, Watford refused Liverpool's request to have their meeting moved to an evening kickoff.
Fabinho said that he and Alisson, a Brazilian teammate, might not be able to get to Watford by lunchtime on Saturday. The club is already looking at flying them out to Spain to attend the Champions League match with Atletico Madrid next Wednesday.
He stated, "I believe that the first match against Watford will be very difficult for us." "I don’t believe we’ll play. Alisson and I are not sure. The match against Uruguay will take place Friday night in the United Kingdom. Watford's match takes place at 12:30pm.
Use Chrome browser to access a better video player Liverpool's Fabinho doesn't believe he or Alisson will be able to return from Brazil duty in time for Liverpool's game against Watford.
"With all the travel involved, I don’t know how long we’ll be able to spend between each game. We won't be playing, I think. We will also have to quarantine. However, the club is still evaluating whether it would be better to travel straight to Spain to face Atletico and quarantine there without having to stay in an English hotel.
Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool's boss, stated last month that "Obviously nobody has thought about that [the scheduling] yet. It's a Liverpool issue, not a problem to anybody else." Watford is doing well. "I don't know how to do these things, and no one reacts to the schedule.
Manchester City has two Brazil players, Gabriel Jesus and Ederson. They play at home to Burnley on the 37.5 hour mark after their national team kicks off in Manaus.
Image: Argentina's #1 Emi Martinez is unlikely be featured in Aston Villa against Wolves
Tottenham will travel to Newcastle on Super Sunday, at 4.30pm. Live on Sky Sports, Emerson Royal is in the Brazil squad. Both Cristian Romero (Argentina) and Giovani Lo Celso (Peru) are in the Argentina squad. Davison Sanchez will be in the Colombia squad against Ecuador at 10:15 on Thursday UK Time.
Man Utd's Fred in Brazil and Edinson Cavani in Uruguay have only 37.5 hours between them and the Premier League clash against Leicester at 3pm on Saturday. Aston Villa have Douglas Luiz and Emi Martinez (Argentina), representing their respective countries before the 3pm kickoff against Wolves. Everton's Yerry mina (Colombia), Newcastle’s Miguel Almiron and Chelsea's Thiago Silvi (Brazil), and Leeds' Raphinha(Brazil), Chelsea's Thiago (Brazil), and Chelsea's (Brazil), and Chelsea's (Brazil), and Chelsea's (Brazil), and Chelsea's (Brazil), and Chelsea's (Brazil), and Chelsea's (Brazil), and Chelsea's (Brazil), and Chelsea's) could also be affected by the (Brazil), as well.
For teams playing on Saturday, any gap less than 40 hours is likely to be too small. However, Tottenham, Newcastle, and Everton may make their players available for Sunday fixtures.
Saturday
Liverpool (vs Watford at 12.30pm).
Fabinho - Brazil vs Uruguay – 35 hours gap between kickoffs
Uruguay vs Uruguay 35 hour gap between kickoffs Alisson and Brazil vs Uruguay 35 hours gap
Man City (vs Burnley at 3pm)
Ederson - Brazil against Uruguay - 37.5 hour gap
vs Uruguay 37.5 hour gap Gabriel Jesus – Brazil vs Uruguay 37.5 hour gap
Man Utd (vs Leicester, 3pm)
Edinson Cavani Brazil vs Uruguay 37.5 hour gap
- 37.5 Hours Gap Fred - Brazil Vs Uruguay - 37.5 Hours Gap
Aston Villa (vs Wolves, 3pm)
Emi Martinez - Argentina vs Peru - 38.5 hours gap
Douglas Luiz, Brazil vs Uruguay 38.5 Hours Gap - Uruguay vs Peru 37.5 Hours Gap
Leeds (vs Southampton at 3pm)
Raphinha – Brazil vs Uruguay 37.5 hour gap
Chelsea (vs Brentford at 5.30pm).
Thiago Silva – Brazil vs Uruguay – 40 hours gap
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Sunday
Tottenham (vs Newcastle, 4.30pm)
Cristian Romero – Argentina vs Peru 64 hours gap
Peru vs Argentina - 64 hour gap Giovani Lo Celso - Argentina Peru - 64 hour gap
Emerson Royal Brazil vs Peru 64 hour gap Emerson Royal Uruguay - 63 hour gap
vs Uruguay - 63 hours gap Davinson Sanchez - Colombia vs Ecuador - 66.5 hours gap
Newcastle (vs Tottenham, 4.30pm)
Miguel Almiron – Paraguay Vs Bolivia - 67.5 Hours Gap
Everton (vs West Ham at 2pm)
Yerry Mina - Colombia vs Ecuador - 64 hours gap
Brentford
Chelsea Saturday 16 October, 5:00PM Kickoff 5:30PM
Everton
West Ham United Sunday 17 October, 1:00pm Kickoff 2:00pm
Newcastle United
Tottenham Hotspur Sunday 17 October 4:00pm Kickoff 4:30pm
Why is this happening?
This time, the issue is the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers South America. Three games are crammed into the international fortnight (October 7, October 10, and October 14) as they try to make up lost time.
Due to Covid delays, the 18 matchdays had to now include triple-headers on September and October as well as an additional double-header in January/February 2022.
The good news is that this should not be an issue during the November internationals. There is only one double-header planned. Premier League players will have more time to return home since the second of these two games ends earlier in the week.
It's not a Covid issue.
But not strictly. Not strictly.
They can leave the premises once per day for training or playing.
What's the outlook for January and February?
The Premier League winter break between January 23rd and February 7 won't provide much rest for South American players or players participating in the Africa Cup of Nations.
CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers will take place on January 27th and February 1st, respectively. AFCON runs between January 9th and February 6th.
Liverpool could be without up to seven players - Alisson and Fabinho with Brazil, Roberto Firmino and Takumi minamino at AFCON, and Mo Salah and Sadio Mane with Brazil.
