With the World Cup in the winter this year, I was checking what the schedule looks like:
12 NOV: Final club game before players depart for the World Cup
21 NOV-2 DEC: Group stages
3 DEC-6 DEC: Round of 16
9 DEC-10 DEC: Quarter Finals
13 DEC-14 DEC: Semi Finals
17 DEC-18 DEC: 3rd place play-off/Final
26 DEC: Season resumes
This means the players who don't go to the World Cup will get a nice mid season break. Those clubs who have more key players staying at home will obviously have an advantage. In Robertson, Salah, and Diaz, we have 3 big hitters who will definitely get a break as their countries didn't qualify. Matip and Milner have retired, and Firmino is currently out of favor. Looking at the City squad, all of their defenders and midfielders are likely to go, plus Ederson and Alvarez. So it's probably only Haaland and Mahrez who will get a break. With how closely matched we are, that could be all the advantage we need in the title race.
Didn’t qualify: Kelleher, Ramsay, Robertson, Tsimikas, Keita, Salah, Diaz
Retired/probably not selected: Adrian, Konate, Matip, Gomez, Milner, Jones, Ox, Elliott, Carvalho, Firmino
Likely to go: Alisson, Trent, van Djik, Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago, Jota, Nunez