The first international break of 2024 is upon us, with some of the Premier League’s biggest stars preparing to link up with their respective nations.
With only two months of the season left, the Premier League title race is hotting up with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City all within a point of each other. All three sides have players heading away for the next fortnight, but some more than others.
Anything could happen whilst the players are away, and the three title-chasing clubs will no doubt praying nothing happens to their biggest talents ahead of their return at the end of March. City host the Gunners in their first game after the break with Liverpool hosting Brighton, in a week that could well define the race for the title.
When it comes to numbers, Arsenal will have the biggest advantage this international break with only 13 players departing to play for their respective countries, with 14 remaining at the club after Gabriel and Bukayo Saka both pulled out of the Brazil and England squads respectively.
Liverpool have 15 players heading out on international duty whilst Manchester City have 14 currently away with their countries. Jurgen Klopp’s side are currently marred in an injury crisis, however, with Mohamed Salah the only fit player remaining at the club over the next two weeks and Darwin Nunez having pulled out of the Uruguay squad because of injury concerns.
For City, Kevin De Bruyne has been ruled out with a slight groin injury, and will join fellow absentees Jack Grealish and Ederson at the club during the break. Erling Haaland has been named in the latest Norway squad, meanwhile.
Here are the players who will be heading away with their national teams and who is staying put at their clubs as it stands…
Arsenal
13 players on international duty
Kai Havertz [Germany], Martin Odegaard [Norway], William Saliba [France], Jakub Kiwior [Poland], Oleksandr Zinchenko [Ukraine], Declan Rice [England], Leandro Trossard [Belgium], Mohamed Elneny [Egypt], Aaron Ramsdale [England], Karl Hein [Estonia], David Raya [Spain], Jorginho [Italy]
14 players staying at the club
Jurrien Timber, Ben White, Reiss Nelson, Gabriel Martinelli [injured], Gabriel Jesus, Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Cedric Soares, Fabio Vieira, Bukayo Saka [injured], Gabriel [injured], Thomas Partey.
Liverpool
15 players on international duty
Caoimhin Kelleher [Republic of Ireland], Ibrahima Konate [France], Virgil van Dijk [Netherlands], Dominik Szoboszlai [Hungary], Conor Bradley [Northern Ireland], Joe Gomez [England], Luis Diaz [Colombia], Cody Gakpo [Netherlands], Alexis Mac Allister [Argentina], Andy Robertson [Scotland], Wataru Endo [Japan], Konstantinos Tsimikas [Greece], Ryan Gravenberch [Netherlands], Jarell Quansah [England U21], Harvey Elliot [England U21].
8 players staying at the club
Trent Alexander-Arnold [injured], Joel Matip [injured], Allison Becker [injured], Thiago [injured], Curtis Jones [injured], Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota [injured], Darwin Nunez [injured]
Manchester City
14 players on international duty
Phil Foden [England], John Stones [England], Rodri [Spain], Jeremy Doku [Belgium], Manuel Akanji [Switzerland], Kyle Walker [England], Josko Gvardiol [Croatia], Julian Alvarez [Argentina], Matheus Nunes [Portugal], Oscar Bobb [Norway], Nathan Ake [Netherlands], Mateo Kovacic [Croatia], Rico Lewis [England U21], Erling Haaland [Norway]
5 players staying at the club
Ederson [injured], Stefan Ortega, Sergio Gomez, Kevin De Bruyne [injured], Jack Grealish [injured]
2 players already returned following international duty:
Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias [returned to club after Portugal v Sweden on Thursday]
