Several Premier League clubs will go into the 19th round of matches nervous about players being hit with suspensions. Players on four yellow cards are currently just one caution away from a one-game ban – but that rule is only in effect for the first half of the season.
That means after the 19th match is completed, any player who then picks up a fifth yellow will not be subjected to a ban. However, if they reach 10 bookings across the 38-game campaign, they will be hit with a two-game suspension.
The 2023-24 season’s 19th match-day begins tomorrow on Boxing Day, with five games across the day including Newcastle vs Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United vs Luton, Bournemouth vs Fulham, Burnley vs Liverpool and Manchester United vs Aston Villa. There are then three games on the 27th (Chelsea vs Crystal Palace, Brentford vs Wolves, Everton vs Manchester City) and two on the 28th (Brighton vs Tottenham and Arsenal vs West Ham).
Liverpool and Man United are among those nervously hoping to avoid bookings. Wataru Endo is on four yellows after a 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Sunday and if he commits too many fouls against Burnley at Turf Moor, he will be ruled out of facing Newcastle on New Year’s Day (NYD).
That would be very bad news for Jurgen Klopp who is currently without first-choice No 6 Alexis Mac Allister as well as back-ups Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara. Darwin Nunez is also on four yellows and should start at Burnley. With Diogo Jota still sidelined, the Reds need the Uruguayan to avoid any bad challenges or dissent.
Similarly, United will be asking Luke Shaw to keep it clean at home to Villa. While they have Sergio Reguilon in reserve should they need him to start at Nottingham Forest on New Year’s Eve (NYE), Shaw is one of their most influential players. Having him available for a tricky trip to Forest would aid Erik ten Hag in his bid to secure a morale-boosting result.
Liverpool and United are not the only clubs anxious. Arsenal have Ben White on four yellows ahead of the visit of West Ham to the Emirates. They take on Fulham at Craven Cottage in their next match after that on NYE.
Tottenham meanwhile have three – Cristian Romero, Pape Matar Sarr and Dejan Kulusevski – at risk of a ban when they face Everton. Spurs’ next match after that is also a NYE contest at home to Bournemouth.
It comes with Chelsea having been hit with a double punishment for their match against Crystal Palace on the 27th. Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer were carded at Wolves on Christmas Eve for simulation and kicking the ball away after a stop in play respectively.
