Three Manchester City stars at huge risk of Premier League suspension | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola is facing the possibility of losing three key members of his Manchester City squad to a one-game suspension.

With the Premier League campaign maintaining its congested festive period, discipline is becoming an increasingly important factor for clubs competing across multiple fronts.

For Manchester City, the fine margins of yellow-card accumulation could yet have a notable impact on team selection as Pep Guardiola attempts to balance form and availability amid a growing injury list, too.

The club’s demanding schedule has already tested squad depth this season, particularly in midfield areas following Rodri’s continued absence as he recovers from a hamstring issue, as well as the injury blows to both Oscar Bobb and Jeremy Doku in recent weeks.

As a result, Pep Guardiola has leaned heavily on several trusted figures, making the risk of enforced absences through suspension a growing concern at a pivotal stage of the league campaign.

The Premier League’s disciplinary rules stipulate that any player who accumulates five yellow cards in their opening 19 matches will receive an automatic one-game suspension. With City now 17 matches into their league programme, the next two fixtures carry added jeopardy.

Following their respective yellow cards in the first 17 games of the season, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Bernardo Silva, and Nico Gonzalez are just one yellow card away from a one-game Premier League suspension due to an accumulation of such cautions.

In his opening 17 appearances for Manchester City in the Premier League this season, club captain Bernardo Silva has received a total of four cautions, while Donnarumma has received the same number of such cards in his opening 14 top-flight appearances.

As for Gonzalez, who picked up his fourth yellow card of the ongoing season during the 3-0 win over West Ham United on Saturday afternoon, the Spaniard remains a crucial cog in the absence of Rodri having made 16 top-flight appearances so far this campaign.

As such, the trio would have to avoid yellow cards in City’s next two games in the Premier League if they are to avoid a one-game suspension.

Elsewhere, Phil Foden has received three yellow cards each in Manchester City’s opening 17 matches in the Premier League, giving him slightly more breathing room from the same punishment.

Manchester City’s next two matches will see them travel to Nottingham Forest and Sunderland either side of the New Year, with the club due to take on the former on December 27th before travelling to the North-East on New Year’s Day.

Looking ahead, Pep Guardiola may be forced to manage minutes carefully or adjust tactical roles to minimise risk, particularly in high-intensity away fixtures. Any suspension picked up during this period could disrupt momentum and place further strain on an already stretched squad.

Much may therefore depend on Manchester City’s ability to navigate the next two league games with discipline intact, ensuring their key players remain available as the title race intensifies in the second half of the season.