African Nations Cup can help Liverpool – Gerrard

Steven Gerrard believes the African Nations Cup can help Liverpool’s bid to win the English title for the first time in 20 years.

While Liverpool do not have any African players, Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal will lose several stars for at least three weeks when the Nations Cup is played in Angola between January 10-31.

Chelsea will be without Ivory Coast strikers Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, Ghana midfielder Michael Essien and Nigeria’s John Obi Mikel.

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes will miss Togo forward Emmanuel Adebayor and Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure, while Arsenal, who face Manchester United on January 30, could be without Cameroon midfielder Alex Song and Ivory Coast defender Emmanuel Eboue.

“Everyone will have blips and some of the teams lose important players with the African Nations,” Gerrard told Liverpoolfc.tv.

“It’s a long season, there are a lot of games and a lot football to be played yet.

“Chelsea, Tottenham and City have got off to good starts but there is a long way to go before you start predicting who will be up there at the end.”