Premier League yellow-card bans: who is at risk over the festive period? | OneFootball

The festive period is the Premier League’s busiest spell, and yellow-card tallies could bite. According to NY Times, any player who reaches five bookings within the first 19 rounds receives a one-match suspension.

This season the 19th matchday falls across 30 December and 1 January, with all 20 clubs playing four league fixtures in 13 days or fewer.

Four players are already banned for the 18th round, Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai, Sunderland midfielder Luke O’Nien, and Tottenham Hotspur duo Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero.

Spurs playmaker Simons will also miss the 19th and 20th matchdays, serving a three-game suspension after his red card against Liverpool in his side’s 17th match.

Across the division, 33 players are on four yellow cards, one booking from a ban. Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba and Sunderland pair Reinildo and Noah Sadiki will not pick up a suspension during this period due to their Africa Cup of Nations involvement in Morocco.

A further 48 players sit on three yellows. With matches coming thick and fast, some could reach the threshold before the halfway point.

Card counts reset after the 19th round. However, any player who accrues 10 yellow cards by the 32nd round, scheduled for 11-12 April, will face a two-match suspension.

Source: NY Times