Several Premier League players are at risk of a two-match suspension.
Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool are just three of the sides in the Premier League whose top talents are at risk of picking up a suspension this weekend. And given Premier League rules state a player who picks up 10 yellow cards during a single campaign will sit out a two-match suspension, it could prove detrimental to a team’s hopes ahead of the run-in.
Now the final international break of the 2023/24 campaign is out of the way, it’s full steam ahead in the Premier League, with storylines set to unfold at both ends of the table. Three teams remain gripped in a title tussle at the top, while the relegation battle continues to rumble on, with European spots also up for grabs.
Erik ten Hag’s United are one of the teams hoping to take advantage of what looks like a fifth Champions League spot available for Premier League teams this season. But, Bruno Fernandes is the Red Devils player most at risk of picking up a suspension, with the United skipper having picked up eight yellow cards so far. Another two bookings for the Portuguese ace and he could throw United’s Champions League hopes into jeopardy.
Champions League football looks like it’s already out of Chelsea’s reach, but the Blues do hold an outside chance of qualifying for one of the two Europa competitions. However, Mauricio Pochettino’s job could be made much harder if Nicolas Jackson, Moises Caicedo and Cole Palmer pick up any more yellow cards, given the trio are sat on nine, eight and seven respectively.
Nicolas Jackson has already served a suspension this season
Liverpool find themselves in a similar position, with Darwin Nunez having accumulated eight yellow cards after 28 Premier League matches. The Uruguayan has been an ever-present for Jurgen Klopp’s side in recent weeks and any absence for Nunez could prove costly for the Reds’ title challenge.
One of the teams hoping to beat Liverpool to the Premier League title are Manchester City and much like their championship rivals, Pep Guardiola could be hit with a selection headache if Rodri picks up a suspension. The midfield general is the only player in the treble winners’ squad on eight yellow cards or more and given how much City struggled without Rodri earlier in the campaign, Guardiola will be keen to keep him away from trouble.
