EPL Week 12 Picks: Teams That Will Suffer Due to International Break

The international break offers a welcome reprieve from the daily grind of club football for some players, but for others it represents a tiring week of long-haul travel and a whole new set of stresses to deal with. 

With Chelsea’s Brazilian contingent heading south of the equator, Luis Suarez travelling to the Middle East to take on Jordan before the return leg in Uruguay and Southampton’s Dejan Lovren facing a do-or-die home-and-away clash for Croatia against Iceland, there are many who could be well below the peak of their powers come Matchday 12. 

Here’s a look at those sides that may struggle after the international grind.

Liverpool

The aforementioned Uruguayan has a lot of air miles and playing time to clock up before he arrives back on Merseyside for the derby clash with Everton. 

Suarez is a tireless contributor to the Liverpool cause, but his schedule over the next week is a challenge even for him.

Liverpool have struggled after the previous two international breaks this season. In Matchday 4 they drew 2-2 with Swansea, and in Matchday 8 they drew 2-2 away to Newcastle, who had been reduced to 10 men in the first half. 

While the Reds, who sit second in the league, have impressed so far this season, their squad is a lot thinner than the sides that sit around them in the table. 

That could pose a problem for Brendan Rodgers’ side on Nov. 23. 

Arsenal

The Gunners will be eager to return to winning ways after their defeat to Manchester United, but the visit of the in-form Southampton will be a challenge for the home side. 

Similarly to Liverpool, Arsenal lack depth in specific areas of the field. They have the back-up in midfield to replace injured and fatigued players, but they can’t afford to lose anyone up front and in defence. 

French internationals Bacary Sagna and Olivier Giroud, two key components to the starting XI, need to get through a tough double-header against Ukraine to book their place at the 2014 World Cup. 

The Southampton trio of Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Jay Rodriguez were all called up to the England squad for friendlies against Chile and Germany. You get the sense, however, that this outing will boost confidence rather than sap energy.  

Tottenham 

Tottenham have a team packed to the brim with internationals, and the last team Andre Villas-Boas will want to face is Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. 

The Sky Blues have won all five of their home games this season and are the only team in the league that still boast a 100 percent record on their own turf.

Spurs’ problem in the opening 11 games has been a lack of creativity going forward. They have scored just nine times, and while Gareth Bale’s wonder goals last season disguised their vulnerabilities in attack, they are there for everyone to see this season. 

Villas-Boas will be hard at work over the next 10 days devising a plan for his team, but with a side full of internationals, he will unlikely get much time with them on training ground ahead of the visit to Manchester.

Similarly to Villas-Boas, Manuel Pellegrini could have done with some additional time with his players ahead of the visit of Spurs, but City’s problems tend to bubble below the surface when they play at home. 

In front of their own crowd they have dismantled teams, scoring 20 goals while conceding just two. 

Both teams will have to stew over their disappointing defeats to Sunderland and Newcastle over the break, but expect City to return to winning ways once the international fixtures draw to a close.