Who has gained, lost as the EPL returns?

LONDON. — The English Premier League football resumes on December 26 (Boxing Day) after a six-week break to accommodate the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

For some top-flight clubs, an enforced hibernation will have offered the chance to reset, rest key players or get those on the treatment table closer to fitness. However, others will be braced to deal with the emotional and physical hangover from the tournament as players return either brimming with confidence or nursing an injury or the baggage of costing their team at a key moment.

BBC Sport looks at who might benefit or lose out when the English top flight gets back under way.

R&R for Haaland as Arsenal’s Jesus suffers injury blow

While the world did not get to see the English Premier League’s most potent striker in Qatar, Manchester City will hope that a mid-season holiday helps Erling Haaland maintain his explosive form.

With 18 goals in 13 league games and another five in four Champions League appearances, much could depend on the fitness and freshness of the Norway international as City target domestic and European success.

If the prospect of a goal-hungry Haaland isn’t terrifying enough for defenders, then Riyad Mahrez should also be raring to go for City after his Algeria team failed to qualify and fellow forward Julian Alvarez returns to England on the crest of a wave after being a central figure in Argentina’s triumph. In contrast, Arsenal’s five-point lead at the top of the table appears distinctly more vulnerable after a knee injury ended Gabriel Jesus’ tournament prematurely. The Brazil forward has been a transformative signing for the Gunners this term, but now faces a significant spell on the sidelines as Mikel Arteta’s team face a challenging sequence of matches, beginning with a home game against West Ham and a trip to Brighton, with fixtures against Newcastle, Tottenham and Manchester United to follow before the end of January.

Mixed emotions for Kane, Maguire and Salah

Tottenham’s top-four ambitions are likely to rest on Harry Kane not suffering any emotional burnout from the anguish of his penalty miss against France at the World Cup, as England went out in the quarter-finals. Spurs boss Antonio Conte may also rue Richarlison picking up yet another injury after impressing for Brazil, while Son Heung-min’s struggles for form continued in the Middle East. At the other end of the pitch, things look slightly more positive given Cristian Romero’s status as a world champion, and French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris’ run to the final.

Meanwhile, Liverpool fans will be hopeful that Egypt forward Mohamed Salah’s absence from the tournament allows him to shrug off any early-season sluggishness — to help his club get their top-four push back on track.

Reports have suggested that Diogo Jota could be available again for the Reds by early February, to help compensate for the loss of winger Luis Diaz, who is expected to be out until March after reinjuring his knee during a warm-weather training camp in Dubai. — BBC Sport