We are just four games into the 2023/24 Premier League campaign but that hasn't stopped speculation around who will be lifting the Premier League title come May.
Manchester City, who have won the title in each of the last three years, are favourites again this term and Pep Guardiola's side are the only team who have maintained a perfect record this season. But the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have each accrued ten points from their opening four fixtures in what is shaping up to be a long and exciting season.
The first international break of the campaign is now coming to an end but there are plenty more over the course of the next few months, including two major tournaments that take part whilst league fixtures continue. They are in the form of the Africa Cup of Nations and the Asian Cup.
The Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on January 13, 2024, meaning Premier League players that are called up could be away from domestic football for as long as a month considering the final is due to take place on February 11. Meanwhile, the Asian Cup has somewhat similar dates, starting one day earlier (January 12, 2024) and ending one day before as well (February 10).
Two Arsenal midfielders, in the form of Mohamed Elneny and Thomas Partey, will likely be playing in AFCON, with Egypt and Ghana respectively while Takehiro Tomiyasu will be taking part in the Asian Cup for Japan. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur will be without two midfielders as well, with Senegalese youngster Pape Matar Sarr and Mali stalwart Yves Bissouma both set to play for their respective nations at AFCON.
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Spurs will have to do without star frontman Son Heung-min, who will captain South Korea in their pursuit of glory at the Asian Cup, as well. New Liverpool signing Wataru Endo will be linking up with the aforementioned Tomiyasu for Japan while Jurgen Klopp's talisman Mohamed Salah will be at AFCON with Egypt.
City, on the other hand won't have any players at either tournament, a huge boost to their hopes of winning the league again this season with Guardiola looking to become the first-ever manager to win four Premier League titles on the bounce.
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