The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is scheduled to run from December 21 until January 18, affecting nearly all Premier League clubs.
While Sunderland and Manchester United will be the worst affected teams, Everton will also lose two key players to AFCON.
David Moyes will have to contend without Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gana Gueye during a busy period when they have four games in 17 days.
Gueye received a red card for slapping team-mate Michael Keane at Manchester United last month.
But after serving his three-game suspension against Newcastle United, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest, he is back available for selection against Chelsea on Saturday.
However, it will be the midfielder’s final game before he travels with Ndiaye to join the Senegal squad for AFCON.
The duo are guaranteed to miss the three matches against Arsenal, Burnley, and Nottingham Forest.
But since Senegal are a top side and are expected to go deep in the tournament, the Everton pair could miss up to seven games.
This means that Gueye and Ndiaye could miss January’s home fixtures against Brentford, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sunderland, as well as the away trip to Aston Villa.
Everton have had an excellent season so far under David Moyes, sitting seventh in the top-flight table with 24 points.
They have won four of their previous five league fixtures, beating Fulham, United, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest without conceding a goal.
The Toffees will want to continue their momentum over the coming weeks, but they will have to do it without two of their key stars.