LIVERPOOL is set to be among the clubs hit hardest by player unavailability due to the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Gabon.

Versatile forward Sadio Mane, who has scored eight goals and assisted seven more so far this season, will be unavailable through international duties with Senegal.

They are one of the losers from the African tournament in January, but Chelsea, who would have thought they would lose key man Victor Moses, have no such worries, with Nigeria failing to qualify.

Reds manager Jurgen Klopp admitted Mane’s versatility makes him a particularly difficult player to replace, having been a pivotal player this season.

“He’s a winger, so a very offensive player, outstanding player, very good, can play in the half-space, can do everything,” he said.

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“If we had five other wingers to replace him already then we cannot have the team we have in this moment, with the atmosphere we have in this moment where everybody feels he is really important.

“You cannot have everything, so we decided to do this. Sadio’s away and we have to find solutions.

“They can be, under very specific circumstances, in the transfer market, but if not then they are in the squad.”

Klopp indicated he would be willing to try out a different system if he couldn’t find someone — either in the transfer market or his current squad — to play Mane’s role.

“We have been a little bit unlucky with injuries in the wrong moments but we can still play different systems and a lot of our players are really versatile and that’s what we have to use.

“For this the players need to be open and I’m sure they are open for this.

“It’s another sign for a kind of confidence: if you think the only system we can play is this system, that’s not like it is, but we need to really show this.”

The Reds are among a collective of Premier League clubs losing players to AFCON duties.

Here’s how the different teams stack up - with implications at both ends of the table.

Note: These lists are subject to change.

ARSENAL

Ismael Bennacer (Algeria), Mohamed Elneny (Egypt)

Not going: Alex Iwobi, Nigeria (did not qualify)

Just the two absence for Arsenal, with Elneny representing Egypt and Bennacer in action for Algeria. That’s a hit to Arsene Wenger’s depth but not his starting XI.

BOURNEMOUTH

Not going: Max Gradel, Ivory Coast (injured)

There’s no real affect on Bournemouth, with Max Gradel ruled out of AFCON with an ankle injury.

BURNLEY

None.

CHELSEA

None

Not going: Victor Moses, Nigeria (did not qualify), John Obi Mikel, Nigeria (did not qualify)

Chelsea's Nigerian midfielder Victor Moses (L). Source: AFP

Things were already going swimmingly for Chelsea.

That trend looks set to continue, with the Blues having no players on international duty at AFCON.

Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel were the only players in contention to face off at AFCON, though Nigeria failed to qualify.

CRYSTAL PALACE

Bakary Sako, Mali

Wilfried Zaha, Ivory Coast

Not going: Pape Souare, Senegal (injured)

Wilfried Zaha. Source: AP

Now Zaha is heading to Gabon, he’ll be sorely missed by Sam Allardyce at Crystal Palace. The winger has been in superb form this season and having recently switched allegiances to Ivory Coast, would surely be keen to make himself available for international duty.

EVERTON

Idrissa Gueye, Senegal

Not going: Yannick Bolasie, DR Congo (injured)

Gueye is a loss in the midfield for Everton, who otherwise escape relatively unscathed.

HULL

Ahmed Elmohamady, Egypt

Dieumerci Mbokani, DR Congo

Elmohamady is quite the loss for Hull, with his absence not helped by the fact Egypt are historically one of the best-performing teams at AFCON, meaning he could be in Gabon until the tournament’s latter stages.

LEICESTER

Daniel Amartey, Ghana

Riyad Mahrez, Algeria

Islam Slimani, Algeria

Not going: Ahmed Musa, Nigeria (did not qualify)

Riyad Mahrez. Source: Supplied

Things just haven’t been going well for the reigning champions. They’re getting even worse in January. Mahrez and Slimani will both be absent as they play for Algeria, in a huge blow to the Foxes’ attacking stocks.

LIVERPOOL

Sadio Mane, Senegal

Not going: Joel Matip, Cameroon (Elected not to go)

Mane is a huge loss, with his versatility and ability to both score and create goals to be sorely missed.

That said, Matip’s decision to refrain from international duties is a handy piece of good news - except he could yet face FIFA sanctions for refusing to accept his call-up.

“Joel Matip does not want to play with the Lions at the moment due to a bad experience with the previous technical staff,” Cameroon boss Hugo Broos said.

“These players want to privilege their personal interest to the detriment of the national team, which some of them have already used for their development.

“The Cameroon Football Federation reserves the right to take action against these players in accordance with FIFA regulations.”

MANCHESTER CITY

None

Not going: Kelechi Iheanacho, Nigeria (did not qualify), Yaya Toure, Ivory Coast (retired)

Yet another team unaffected by AFCON, Pep Guardiola will relish the opportunity to have close to a full squad.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Eric Bailly, Ivory Coast

Eric Bailly of Manchester United (R). Source: Getty Images

Bailly is one of the bigger names to be unavailable through AFCON duties. However, Jose Mourinho has had to cover for him through injuries of late, so shouldn’t be too fazed by this setback, especially if he lands Benfica target Victor Lindelof.

MIDDLESBROUGH

None

Not going: Emilio Nsue, Equatorial Guinea (did not qualify)

SOUTHAMPTON

Sofiane Boufal, Morocco

The Saints lose just one player to AFCON — unfortunately he’s a very good one. Boufal has been in great form but will be off representing Morocco.

STOKE

Wilfried Bony, Ivory Coast

Mame Biram Diouf, Senegal

Ramadan Sobhi, Egypt

Diouf is a huge loss for Mark Hughes’ side, while the talents of Wilfried Bony — despite his inconsistency at Stoke — will also be missed.

SUNDERLAND

Wahbi Khazri, Tunisia

Lamine Kone, Ivory Coast

Didier Ndong, Gabon

Not going: Victor Anichebe, Nigeria (did not qualify) Steven Pienaar, South Africa (retired, did not qualify)

It’s a tough January ahead of David Moyes. Not only is he set to have minimal cash for the transfer window, he’s also set to lose regular starters Didier Ndong, Wahbi Khazri and Lamine Kone to AFCON. Ouch.

SWANSEA

None

Not going: Modou Barrow, Gambia (did not qualify)

Swansea are unaffected by AFCON, a blessing considering their current position in the league. The Swans can’t afford to take another hit to their struggling squad.

TOTTENHAM

None

Not going: Victor Wanyama, Kenya (did not qualify)

Spurs are one of the big winners here, losing a grand total of zero players to international duties at AFCON.

WATFORD

Nordin Amrabat, Morocco

Brice Dja Djedje, Ivory Coast

Adlene Guedioura, Algeria

Not going: Odion Ighalo, Nigeria (did not qualify), Isaac Success, Nigeria (did not qualify)

Amrabat is clearly the biggest loss for Watford, though he should be replaced easily enough. Dja Djedje and Guedioura are yet to truly establish themselves as first-team regulars.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION

None

Not going: Brendan Galloway, Zimbabwe (elected not to go), Allan Nyom, Cameroon (elected not to go)

West Brom have got themselves onto a winner here. The two players they were set to lose to international duties have both elected not to compete, with Galloway preferring to stay in the England set-up. Nyom is one of seven Cameroon players who have pulled out of the tournament.

WEST HAM

Andre Ayew, Ghana

Sofiane Feghouli, Algeria

Cheikhou Kouyate, Senegal

Not going: Pedro Obiang, Equatorial Guinea (did not qualify), Diafra Sakho, Senegal (injured)

Cheikhou Kouyate. Source: AFP

One of the big losers when it comes to AFCON.

Kouyate is a key piece of Slaven Bilic’s side, while Ayew leaves just as he’s starting to find form. Sakho would have been another unavailable player, though injury has ruled him out anyway.